A team of researchers from the University of Seville, Spain, led by Esther Salmerón-Manzano, has conducted a comprehensive study on the global scientific landscape of fires associated with photovoltaic (PV) energy installations. The team, which includes David Muñoz-Rodríguez, Alberto-Jesus Perea-Moreno, Quetzalcoatl Hernandez-Escobedo, and Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, has published their findings in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.
The study examines scientific literature indexed in Scopus from 1983 to 2023, revealing a significant increase in research output since 2011, with nearly one hundred publications in the most recent year under review. This growth in research interest parallels the global expansion of photovoltaic technology. The majority of studies in this field are classified as engineering, with 34% of publications in this area. The United States leads the way with over 160 publications, followed by China with 125. Two institutions in the USA are particularly prominent in this field: Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico with 22 publications, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado with 16 publications. The second most prolific institution is the University of Science and Technology of China, which has published 17 articles on the subject.
The study also identifies seven scientific communities that group works according to their keywords. These include Fire and Energy Storage, PV faults, Fire resistance, Fire hazard, Fire detectors, Deep learning, and Fire safety. The evolution of keywords suggests a maturation in the understanding of fire risks associated with photovoltaic energy over the past decade. Notably, the researchers found that fires caused by PV installations are not listed as a cause of fire starts. This finding should be considered when conducting preventive analyses of this potential danger, particularly in light of the possible development of agrivoltaics, where facilities will be mainly located in the natural environment.
For the energy industry, this research underscores the importance of continued vigilance and research into the safety of PV installations. As the technology becomes more widespread, understanding and mitigating potential fire risks will be crucial for ensuring the safe and sustainable growth of photovoltaic energy. The study’s identification of key research areas and institutions can also guide future research and collaboration efforts in this field.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.