Technical training
Solar Technical Training Standard / V1 02072025
ANNEX 3 - GUIDANCE ON THE SOLAR PV WORK ENVIRONMENT
Utility Scale Solar PV workers are the main target audience for training developed from this standard.
1.
What is Utility-Scale Solar? Utility-scale solar refers to large-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants designed to generate electricity primarily for distribution through the grid network. The plants are typically ground-mounted systems constructed to deliver renewable electricity to utilities and grid operators. Exact definitions of utility scale sites and their work environment may vary in different countries and different organisations, but unlike smaller residential or commercial installations, utility-scale solar PV is generally defined as having a minimum capacity around 5 megawatts (MW) to over 1 gigawatt (GW). Utility-scale solar provides significant cost advantages due to economies of scale, leading to reduced per-watt installation costs compared to smaller-scale solar projects. For the purposes of the GWO training standards, the term ‘Utility Scale Solar PV’ refers to a solar working environment at the industrial scale, which is distinct from a rooftop installed solar PV work environment, at either domestic or commercial scale. There is no specific scale at which at solar PV array must be considered utility scale and the standard can also be used to train workforce performing tasks at smaller, net-metered installations, which otherwise would not be associated with utility scale operations.
However, this standard is not designed for rooftop working or related hazards, where a perimeter barrier may not be present to separate the solar arrays from a rooftop edge.
2.
The Work Environment for Utility-Scale Solar Utility-scale solar farms can range in size from a few acres to hundreds of acres and are typically situated in remote or rural areas where there’s ample sunlight and land availability. This means sites are often located far from urban centres, increasing the challenge for ensuring a timely response by emergency response services in the event of an incident. Utility-scale solar farms present unique emergency response challenges due to their size, remote locations, and the potential for electrical and fire hazards associated with their equipment. These challenges include developing robust emergency plans, ensuring effective communication, and training personnel to handle specific incidents. Additionally, extreme weather and the large-scale nature of these farms necessitate training, equipment and procedures for responding to incidents. Large-Scale Nature and Remote Locations: Utility-scale solar farms are often located in remote areas, making access for emergency responders difficult and potentially delaying response times. The large scale of these farms can make locating a work party or a casualty particularly challenging in the case of an emergency.
The large scale of the installation creates challenges for the management of manual handling and ergonomics, due to extensive repetitive work required during component mounting and installation. Moving
Global Wind Organisation / www.globalwindsafety.org
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