Completed project · 2026 · Texas, ERCOT

Solar + BESS Arc Flash Study

AC and DC arc flash assessment for a hybrid solar and battery plant, from PV strings to the 138 kV grid connection.

200 MWacSolar generation

100 MWBattery power

400 MWhFour-hour storage

138 kVGrid connection

Illustrative solar array, battery containers and transmission substation — Illustrative plant image; not a site photograph.

Completed in 2026: A 200 MWac solar and 100 MW / 400 MWh BESS project in ERCOT. Client identity and calculated incident-energy values are not published.

The project

A 200 MWac / 260 MWdc solar plant with a 100 MW / 400 MWh LFP battery system, a 34.5 kV collector network and a 138 kV grid connection in ERCOT.

The scope addressed arc flash exposure, protective-device clearing times and practical mitigation across the plant’s AC and DC systems.

The challenge

PV, battery and grid sources contribute differently to a fault. The assessment needed separate treatment for DC equipment, low-voltage AC and the higher-voltage network.

IEEE 1584 covers three-phase AC from 208 V to 15 kV. DC equipment and higher voltages require separate methods with clearly stated limits.

Five study zones

PV array

Up to 1,500 V DC

Assess array behaviour, irradiance and DC protection.

Battery + DC link

1,000–1,500 V DC

Use manufacturer fault-current data across state of charge.

Inverter + PCS

600–800 V AC

Apply IEEE 1584-2018 within its input limits.

Collector system

34.5 kV AC

Select a suitable high-voltage enclosed-arc method.

Substation + POI

138 kV AC

Assess open-air exposure using applicable methods.

Study workflow

Verify single-line diagrams, equipment data and protection settings.
Build the integrated ETAP model and review AC/DC short circuit and coordination.
Assess irradiance, battery state of charge and weak/strong grid scenarios.
Compare applicable methods and evaluate relay, fuse, isolation and maintenance-mode options.

Engineering outputs

An AC and DC arc flash register for the agreed locations.
A documented protection review and ranked mitigation plan.
Equipment labels and task-specific safety inputs.
A report stating assumptions, method limits and handover requirements.

Owner benefit: One zone-specific assessment scope connects the arc flash register, protection review and mitigation priorities. Equipment data, method limits and responsible engineering review remain essential when interpreting the results.

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