In the recent spate of residential PV system fires in Germany and Austria, the highlighted issue of poor quality solar cables has raised widespread social concern. It is understood that within the second half of September alone, there were five incidents of PV system fires in Germany and Austria, with three occurring in Germany and two in Austria. The most recent incident happened on January 23rd in Klein-Karlsruhe, southern Bavaria, Germany, where a standalone house caught fire due to an explosion in the PV system’s energy storage unit, prompting urgent attention.
As a cornerstone of renewable energy, the safe operation of photovoltaic systems directly affects both the environment and people’s safety. However, this series of fire incidents has revealed a range of issues, including poor quality PV cables and improper installation, which have become the primary causes of PV fires.
To ensure the safe operation of PV systems, it is crucial to select reliable PV cable suppliers. The primary focus should be on whether suppliers have obtained authoritative certifications such as TUV, UL, CPR, etc., as these certifications are key guarantees of product quality and safety. Particularly, CPR certification is directly related to reducing PV cable fires, with most suppliers in the market only able to achieve the Cca level. Choosing suppliers that reach the Bca level, such as LAPP and KUKA CABLE, will be more conducive to enhancing fire prevention capabilities.
However, merely focusing on certifications is not enough. We also need to delve into the supplier’s quality control system, including aspects such as material selection, production process management, product testing, and validation. Ensuring that suppliers have a comprehensive quality management system to provide high-quality and reliable solar cables is essential. It is especially important to pay attention to whether suppliers have corresponding quality inspection processes and preferably equipped with professional laboratories to ensure the reliability of product quality. Reliable suppliers typically proactively provide quality inspection reports from previous orders and compare them with industry standards such as EN50618 to confirm whether the product quality meets the standards.
In addition to obtaining information through suppliers, we can also investigate the supplier’s history and reputation through other channels and assess their performance in the photovoltaic cable industry. Seeking out suppliers with rich experience, long-term stable operation, and a good reputation will help establish reliable cooperative relationships. Brands like LAPP, KUKA CABLE, and ENLAND are well-known and reputable in the PV cable industry.
By considering the above factors comprehensively, you are more likely to select a trustworthy solar cable supplier, providing strong support for the long-term stable operation of pv systems.