REA, Huawei conduct solar power safety test

In a major step towards improving safety standards in Nigeria’s fast-growing solar power sector, the Rural Electrification Agency, in partnership with Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited, has conducted the country’s first authoritative Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter function test for photovoltaic inverters.

The test, carried out yesterday under controlled conditions simulating real-life fault scenarios, successfully demonstrated the ability of modern PV inverters to detect and immediately shut down dangerous electrical arc faults capable of causing fires in solar installations.

Speaking during the demonstration, the Chief Electrical Engineer at REA, Engineer Peter Okopi, said the exercise was aimed at addressing one of the most common but often invisible dangers in renewable energy systems.

“Today, we are demonstrating an effect that is a usual occurrence in the renewable energy space. An arc fault is very dangerous, especially in DC systems, because it is continuous and does not quench. It can generate as high as 3,000 degrees centigrade, which is enough to cause fire in solar panels and cables,” Okopi said.

To simulate rooftop solar panels, the engineers used a DC generator to inject electricity into a PV inverter, replicating the voltage normally produced by solar modules. An arc generator was then introduced to create a controlled electrical arc between two conductors, mimicking faults caused by loose connections, poor installation or ageing cables.

According to Okopi, such arc faults are often invisible until they result in overheating or fire. “The only way we usually know an arc is happening is when there is heat on our cables or fire on the roof. But we don’t want fire on the roof. We want the inverter to switch off immediately when this effect occurs,” he said.

The inverter tested was equipped with AFCI technology, which continuously monitors electrical circuits and rapidly interrupts power flow once an arc fault is detected. During the demonstration, the inverter successfully shut down within 0.7 seconds of detecting the fault, preventing further damage.

This was done in collaboration with Huawei engineers, simply identified as Bruce and Travo. The test equipment was donated by Huawei.

“That 0.7 seconds is enough to safeguard all our devices at home and all our solar panels on the roof. If an inverter does not have this feature, it will not only destroy the installed devices, but it can also destroy the whole roof and even the building,” Okopi explained.

Beyond shutting down, the inverter also generated detailed fault alarms, displaying the exact time of occurrence, possible causes, and recommended corrective actions. The system identified issues such as loose cable ends, partial contacts, and ageing cables as common causes of arcing, while advising routine inspection and maintenance.

“What is impressive is that this inverter does not just shut down. It tells you why it shut down, the possible cause, and what to do to prevent it from happening again,” he noted.

The Managing Director of the REA, Abba Aliyu, represented by the Director of Projects, M D. Bala, said the successful test provides critical technical evidence that can help Nigeria establish and enforce stricter entry standards for PV equipment, especially as solar adoption accelerates across homes, businesses, and rural electrification projects.

Aliyu described the collaboration with Huawei as timely, noting that the lack of stringent regulations has allowed uneven product quality in the market, with fire incidents increasingly reported.

The Executive Director in charge of Technical Services, Abdullahi Umar, who was also represented by Bala, said the AFCI test marks a transition for Nigeria’s solar industry from rapid expansion to quality-driven growth. The agency called on regulators, government institutions, and private sector players to work together to develop comprehensive safety and quality standards covering product design, installation, operation, and maintenance.

“This will ensure that every PV power plant put into operation becomes a safe and reliable source of clean energy while safeguarding the healthy and sustainable development of Nigeria’s photovoltaic industry,” Umar stated.