As floods continue to devastate parts of Queensland and New South Wales, the all-too familiar images of people awaiting rescue on the roofs of their submerged houses increasingly feature solar panels. Which means it’s time to talk about flooding and rooftop solar safety.
Master Electricians Australia issued an urgent warning earlier this week along these lines, warning rooftop solar owners that panels continue to produce electricity during a flood event, even if the grid supply to the house has been cut and the panels turned off at the switchboard.
“Homeowners who are forced onto their roof due to flooding need to be extremely careful around solar panels as they present a real electrical safety risk,” said MEA CEO Malcolm Richards.
“This also applies to people in boats or other craft moving around near submerged homes.
“Even if the network supply is turned off, solar panels still produce electricity and the associated wiring is also live.
“This is a very serious threat affecting thousands of homes and has the potential to cause death or serious injury if people come into contact with the wiring to the panels.
“Flood-affected residents can use the shutdown instructions to safely turn off the isolation switches located next to the Solar Inverter and these instructions are usually located on the switchboard.
“If you’re unsure of anything we urgently recommend engaging a fully qualified electrician. Where a solar PV system has been flood inundated, an electrician can check the system and safely isolate water-damaged components.
“It is vital that residents ensure that the system is electrically safe before it is recommissioned.”
MEA has also launched a free hotline to connect homeowners affected by flooding with local electricians. Residents affected can call 1300 889 198 and a contractor will assist them to get back on the grid quickly and safely.
Queensland regional network operator Ergon Energy offers similar advice on its website, including a warning that a “live” solar system combined with flood water or storm damage can pose a serious electric shock risk.
Ergon’s advice is to always treat solar modules and their cables as if they were “live” and to take the following steps to stay safe around your solar PV system during severe weather:
The Clean Energy Council also has extensive advice on what solar home owners should and shouldn’t do in a number of emergency situations, including floods, and provides a link to its database of accredited installers.
The CEC notes that home owners should not attempt to turn on their rooftop PV system after a storm or flood, and should stay away from the solar panels and wiring until they are professionally assessed as safe to approach.
It also advises that any repairs to a storm or flood-damaged rooftop solar system are cleared as electrically safe before a solar system is recommissioned.
“This check needs to be done before other clean-up work starts around the modules and associated electrical wiring,” the CEC says.
And here’s some advice from the CEC on what people can do to make stand-alone, or off-grid solar and battery systems safe in the threat of a flood:
Sophie is editor of One Step Off The Grid and editor of its sister site, Renew Economy. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.
