The rapid growth of solar energy in Brazil has driven sustainable and cost-effective solutions, but it also reveals challenges, such as safety in installations.
A recent incident in Goiânia (GO), where the roof of a church collapsed during the installation of a solar plant, highlights the risks associated with these works.
According to engineer Michel Kazmierski, CEO of TAB Energia and specialist in photovoltaic systems, the episode highlights a weakness in the sector.
“Many roofs were not designed to the additional weight of photovoltaic modules. Without a proper structural report, the safety of the building and the people who use it is compromised,” he said.
According to the engineer, the most common errors go far beyond structures that lack for the weight of the s. One of the main mistakes is the superficial assessment of the capacity of the structure that will receive the installation.
Church roof collapses during installation of solar s in Goiânia (GO)
Another frequently observed problem is the absence of a specialized professional in charge of the structural assessment, putting both the systems and consumers at risk.
Kazmierski explains that safety is directly linked to quality, which in turn depends on the training of the professionals involved.
“Companies and professionals that do not pay attention to this point tend to expose themselves, often involuntarily, to more risks and face more challenges in their relationships with customers in the long term, compromising the longevity of their performance in the market and, consequently, the success of the operation,” he reported.
With continental dimensions and great environmental variation between regions, the Brazilian territory imposes specific requirements on the planning and execution of solar plants, especially in areas with strong incidence of winds or intense rain.
TAB Energia's CEO states that the safety and durability of systems depend on designers' ability to consider local climate factors from the design stage.
“It is necessary for professionals and companies in charge of the project to observe the data pertinent to the location of the asset and consider current standards in engineering premises – which meet the parameters in the design of their engineering and implementation projects”, he stressed.
One of the main technical elements taken into in this case is the so-called isopleth, a map that delimits areas of the country according to the characteristic wind speed.
In regions with more severe winds, it is necessary to use more robust and resistant s, which can increase the cost of the project (CAPEX) and also influence the value of insurance and maintenance throughout the operation (OPEX).
The Brazilian standard NBR 6123, which specifically deals with wind pressures in buildings, is one of the references used by engineers in this type of analysis. This variable has a direct impact on the dimensioning of the structures that the solar s.
The engineer emphasizes the importance of periodic maintenance for the longevity and efficiency of the systems. Regular inspections are essential to detect problems such as hot spots, corrosion and wear on electrical components.
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