Quzhou, Zhejiang: Strengthening PV Safety to Meet Summer Peak Power Demand

With temperatures soaring for consecutive days and electricity demand climbing, the safe operation of photovoltaic power stations is of vital importance. On August 1, State Grid Quzhou Power Supply Company conducted follow-up inspections of grid connection parameters, hidden danger investigation and cooling support measures for photovoltaic power stations under its jurisdiction. The company strengthened safety management under the standard of "full coverage and zero tolerance" to build a solid line of defense for coping with summer peak electricity consumption.

In the morning, scorching heat engulfed the outdoors. At Changhong Photovoltaic Power Station, staff used infrared thermometers to scan key equipment including main transformers and high-voltage switch cabinets one by one. "The temperature rise at busbar joints is obvious; ventilation and cooling measures need to be enhanced." The staff guided operation and maintenance personnel to install high-power fans and set up sunshade nets in the outdoor equipment area, rolling out effective cooling solutions for the facilities.

The same on-site inspection took on an urgent turn at the Junsheng Photovoltaic Power Station. As staff opened the doors of the switch cabinet room and control room, a wave of stifling heat rushed out, with the indoor temperature hitting 45 degrees Celsius — a condition highly likely to cause insulation damage to equipment and even trigger fires. The inspection found that all air-conditioning systems at the power station had been shut down. The staff immediately urged the on-site personnel to turn on the air conditioners for cooling, and provided safety reminders and warning training. They required strict implementation of special high-temperature patrols and environmental control measures to ensure a safe operating environment for all equipment.

To ensure a thorough inspection with no blind spots, staff and operation and maintenance personnel braved scorching sunlight to climb rooftops and hills, verifying the compliance of inverter protection settings item by item. During the check, multiple hidden dangers were identified at several power stations, including fallen labels on protection switch links, loose outlet switch links, and inconsistent inverter protection settings compared with official setting sheets.“A loose switch links may result in protection failure to operate, while setting deviations will directly affect fault isolation—no negligence is permissible.” Inspectors issued on-site rectification notices, urging personnel to fasten loose switch links, replace missing labels and correct inaccurate parameters. All discovered defects were rectified on the spot, realizing immediate investigation and elimination of hidden risks with dynamic zero-clearing management.

Statistics show that during this campaign, staff reviewed more than 100 key parameters including grid-connected protection settings and switch links. Over 10 potential safety hazards such as equipment overheating, excessive ambient temperature and parameter errors were eliminated. The operation has effectively improved the capacity of photovoltaic power stations in Changshan area to cope with heavy power loads and extreme weather in summer.

Moving forward, State Grid Quzhou Power Supply Company will continue to strengthen technical supervision and extended services for new energy power stations. By adopting a dual mechanism of online inspection plus on-site diagnosis, the company will further consolidate the grid-connected safety protection system, and fully guarantee the safe and stable operation of the power grid and reliable power supply throughout the summer peak period.
(Zhu Tao, Li Zhen)