Integrated Earthing and Safety Studies for a PV Solar Farm

Supporting renewable generation with robust earthing design, third-party safety assessment, pipeline interference review and lightning risk mitigation.

DACI delivered a coordinated technical package that helped de-risk the connection, operation and safety case for a large PV solar farm development.

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Earthing
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Solar PV
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UK
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Confidential
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Project Overview

DACI delivered a coordinated technical package that helped de-risk the connection, operation and safety case for a large PV solar farm development.

The project required more than a conventional earthing design. Alongside the PV farm earthing design, DACI considered auxiliary 11kV infrastructure, nearby third-party receptors, livestock exposure, existing high-pressure gas main and lightning risk across the development area.

This integrated approach provided a practical design basis for the renewable generation site while helping stakeholders understand safety, compliance and infrastructure-interface risks before construction and energisation.

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Project Overview

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Project Type: PV solar farm

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Primary Focus: Earthing and safety

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Specialist Study: EMI on gas main

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Risk Review: Lightning assessment

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Project Type
PV solar farm
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Primary Focus
Earthing and safety
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Specialist Study
EMI on gas main

DACI Scope of Work

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Soil Resistivity Testing — Ground investigation data to support accurate modelling and earthing design development.
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PV Farm Earthing Design — Earthing strategy for generation infrastructure, collector systems and site-wide interfaces.
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11kV Auxiliary Earthing — Auxiliary supply earthing design with safety assessment for nearby houses and livestock.
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Third-Party Safety Review — Evaluation of exposure risks beyond the site boundary, including people, property and animals.
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Electromagnetic Interference Study — Assessment of interference risk onto an existing high-pressure gas main crossing or adjacent to the site.
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Lightning Risk Assessment — Review of lightning exposure to support protection strategy and operational resilience.

Balancing Renewable Generation, Safety and Utility Interfaces

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Technical Challenge

PV solar farms can present complex earthing challenges because the electrical network, metallic infrastructure, fencing, auxiliary supplies and buried third-party utilities may interact under fault and transient conditions. For this project, the presence of nearby houses, livestock and a high-pressure gas main required a broader safety-led approach.

DACI Solution

DACI Approach

  • Developed a representative soil model from soil resistivity testing results.
  • Assessed the earthing requirements for the PV farm and associated 11kV auxiliary infrastructure.
  • Reviewed touch, step and transferred potential risks for third-party receptors, including existing houses and livestock.
  • Evaluated electromagnetic interference risk associated with the existing high-pressure gas main.
  • Completed lightning risk assessment to inform protection and resilience measures.
  • Combined findings into a coherent design and safety narrative suitable for stakeholder review.
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Outcome

The completed package gave the project team a stronger technical basis for progressing the renewable energy scheme. By treating earthing, auxiliary systems, third-party safety, pipeline interference and lightning risk as connected issues, DACI helped reduce uncertainty and support a safer, more resilient design.

Value Delivered

  • Safety assurance — Assessment considered touch, step and third-party exposure risks for nearby properties and livestock.
  • Network integration — Earthing design supported PV farm infrastructure and 11kV auxiliary systems.
  • Utility interface — Electromagnetic interference assessment addressed interaction with an existing high-pressure gas main.
  • Resilience — Lightning risk assessment supported protection strategy and operational continuity.

Wider Impact

The work demonstrates DACI's ability to support renewable generation projects with practical, multi-disciplinary earthing expertise from field testing through to design assurance and specialist risk assessment.

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