FURSE® RENEWABLE ENERGY SURGE PROTECTION
ABB’s Furse renewable energy surge protection range provides specialized protection for solar, battery energy storage, and wind power systems.
ABB's Furse renewable energy surge protection range addresses the specific and demanding surge protection requirements of photovoltaic solar panel systems, battery energy storage systems and wind turbines, where the combination of exposed outdoor locations, high DC voltages, sensitive power electronics and high-capacity battery banks creates a critical need for correctly specified, reliably performing protection against partial lightning currents and transient overvoltages. From the ESP DC PV T1+2 and T2 series for the DC side of solar inverters, to the ESP BESS DC series for the DC side of BESS AC/DC converters up to 1500 V DC, and the ESP WT series for 690 V wind turbine main distribution boards, ABB offers a complete set of specific system SPDs that fully coordinates with its broader range of AC mains power protection to deliver end-to-end surge protection across the full renewable energy installation.
PROTECT THE POWER THAT PROTECTS THE PLANET
Renewable energy generation and storage assets represent a significant capital investment, and their continuous availability is fundamental to the viability of the energy systems they support. Yet solar parks, rooftop PV arrays, battery energy storage systems and wind turbines all operate in environments where exposure to lightning and electrical switching surges is high, and where the sensitive power electronics, inverters and control systems at the heart of each installation are highly vulnerable to even low-level transient overvoltage activity.
The consequences of inadequate surge protection in these applications range from disruptive equipment degradation and reduced component lifetimes through to outright equipment damage requiring costly repair and extended downtime. For BESS installations, the additional risk is more severe: the high-capacity batteries within a BESS have a low dielectric strength, and if the rated impulse withstand voltage of live parts to earth is exceeded, there is a serious safety risk including possible explosion in the event of arcing. This makes correctly specified, system-specific surge protection a fundamental safety and availability requirement rather than an optional feature.
ABB offers four specific system SPDs within the Furse ESP range to address each renewable energy application. The ESP DC PV T1+2 series provides combined Type 1 and Type 2 protection for PV systems installed on buildings where a structural Lightning Protection System (LPS) is employed, for use at LPZ boundaries from LPZ 0 through to LPZ 2 on the DC side of the DC-AC inverter, and is available for 1100 V and 1500 V DC systems. The ESP DC PV T2 series provides Type 2 protection for the DC side of DC-AC inverters in PV systems located within LPZ 1, covering 1100 V and 1500 V DC systems where full Type 1 performance is not required. The ESP BESS DC series is a Type 2 (plus Type 1) tested SPD specifically designed and tested to the future BS EN/IEC 61643-41 standard for DC battery energy storage systems, with higher short circuit current ratings optimised for safe application at the DC side of the BESS AC/DC converter, available for 500 V, 1000 V and 1500 V DC. The ESP WT series is a combined Type 1 and Type 2 tested protector for 690 V three-phase main distribution boards within wind turbines, with models offering impulse discharge currents of 12.5 kA and 25 kA per mode, for use at boundaries from LPZ 0 through to LPZ 2.
All four series share the same core design principles that define the Furse ESP platform, including varistor-based technology that eliminates the high follow current associated with spark-gap designs, low let-through voltage for enhanced protection to IEC/BS EN 62305, a front-facing status indication window, volt-free remote signal contact for building management system integration and compact DIN rail mounting for installation within standard distribution enclosures.
KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS
<p>ABB offers comprehensive technical guidance on surge protection design for PV systems to DD CLC/TS 50539-12, for BESS systems to BS EN/IEC 62305 and the emerging BS EN/IEC 61643-41 standard, and for wind turbines to BS EN/IEC 62305 and IEC 61400, with a specialist team of surge protection engineers available to advise on the correct SPD selection, installation and coordination for any renewable energy project.</p>
Safe
<p>Enhanced protection to IEC/BS EN 62305 delivers low let-through voltage across all four product series, minimising the risk of flashover creating dangerous sparking or electric shock at the SPD installation point, and the ESP BESS DC series is specifically optimised to prevent the rated impulse withstand voltage of battery poles and live parts from being exceeded within BESS installations, reducing the serious safety risk of arcing and possible explosion that can result from inadequate DC surge protection in battery energy storage systems.</p>Reliable
<p>All four series deliver repeated protection in lightning intense environments, with Type 1 high energy surge capability in the ESP BESS DC series and ESP WT series providing the impulse discharge current performance required at LPZ 0 to LPZ 1 boundaries, where the full energy of partial lightning currents must be safely diverted, and the varistor-based design across all series eliminates the high follow current associated with spark gap-based surge protection to ensure the SPD does not contribute to sustained fault current on the protected circuit after a surge event.</p>Comprehensive range
<p>ABB offers a complete and coordinated set of specific system SPDs covering every primary renewable energy application from solar PV systems at 1100 V and 1500 V DC with Type 1+2 or Type 2 performance, through BESS installations at 500 V, 1000 V and 1500 V DC with BESS-specific Type 2 plus Type 1 performance, to 690 V wind turbine main distribution boards with combined Type 1 and Type 2 performance, all of which fully coordinate with the broader Furse ESP range of AC mains power protection for complete system coverage.</p>Flexible
<p>Pluggable protection module design with anti-vibration locking clips allows individual modules within the ESP DC PV T1+2, ESP DC PV T2 and ESP BESS DC series to be replaced at end of life without disturbing the wiring or removing the entire SPD from the DIN rail, minimising downtime on a solar park, BESS installation or rooftop PV system during module replacement, with specific replacement module part numbers available for each series from ABB.</p>Easy installation
<p>All four series are suitable for attachment to 35 mm top hat DIN rail within standard distribution boards and metallic or weatherproof Furse MBX D4 and WBX D4 enclosures, with screw terminal connections accepting stranded conductors up to 35 mm² and connecting leads kept to minimal length for optimum surge protection performance, and the ESP WT series is supplied with compatible connecting and earthing bars (ESP CE7, CE9, CE10, CE13) to simplify wiring for both TN-C and TN-S three-phase earthing systems.</p>Connected
<p>A volt-free remote signal contact is included across all four series, enabling the SPD's operational status to be monitored through interfacing with a building management system or SCADA system, with a front-facing visual status indication window providing on-site confirmation of normal operation (clear or green) or fault condition (red) and the ESP WT series providing screw terminal volt-free contact connections rated at 0.5 A and 250 V AC for integration with wind turbine control and management systems.</p>Space saving
<p>Compact DIN rail mounted housings to DIN 43880 keep the installed footprint of each SPD to a minimum within the distribution board or enclosure, with the ESP DC PV T1+2 and T2 series occupying 3 TE (54.5 mm width), the ESP WT series occupying 3 TE (54 mm) or 4 TE (72 mm) per module depending on surge current rating, and all series designed for indoor installation with IP20 protection within a suitable enclosure to meet the environmental requirements of the installation location.</p>Compliant
<p>Certifications include BS EN 61643-31 and BS EN 50539-11 (ESP DC PV T1+2 series), BS EN 61643-31 (ESP DC PV T2 series), BS EN/IEC 61643-41 and BS EN/IEC 61643-31 (ESP BESS DC series), BS EN 61643 (ESP WT series), IEC/BS EN 62305 (all series, enhanced protection standard), DD CLC/TS 50539-12 (PV system installation guidance) and IEC 61400 (wind turbine protection guidance).</p>INDUSTRIES WE SUPPORT
From residential construction to commercial and industrial projects, our products support professionals across diverse industries.
Construction, Data centres, Power generation, Solar power, Wind power, Railway, Water, Battery
CHALLENGES WE SOLVE
Our products are designed to help professionals solve installation, safety and performance challenges in demanding applications.
Continuous operation, Cost reduction, Space constraints, Sustainability