Amy Hahn: A primer on the risks of green energy

From The New England Journal of Higher Education, part of The New England Board of Higher Education (nbehe.org)

It is difficult to travel on any road today without seeing solar panels on the rooftops of houses, larger solar farms across vast fields or wind turbines in the distance. With larger initiatives to create more environmentally sustainable energy and reduce carbon footprint, many universities are reviewing their options for alternative energy sources.

Three of the most common types of alternative energy solutions being installed today are solar panels, wind turbines and cogeneration plants. Ensuring that these efforts to “go green” have long-term success requires an understanding of possible risks and how best to manage them.

A primer:

Solar (photovoltaic) panels

Solar panels convert sunlight to electricity. The individual panels comprise multiple photovoltaic cells. Typically, the panels will be installed as part of a solar array, either on a roof or mounted in a field. Solar is one of the fastest-growing segments in renewable energy and it’s easy to see why. With low maintenance costs and high reliability, solar panels can lower overall electricity costs and add some independence from the electrical grid and its peak prices.

But the addition of solar arrays does carry some potential risk that needs to be taken into account, including:

Roof penetrations can lead to leaks

For wind load requirements, ballasted assemblies should be used, rather than mechanical attachments

For snow load, the weight of panels plus ballasted securement requires structural analysis

Electrical hazards because solar panels are “always on” and need a way to be isolated from the inverter system

Fire hazards can be of higher risk with solar panels and conduit located on a rubber membrane roof covering

Hail damage to the solar panels.

In addition to these specific hazard considerations, it’s important to understand who will be financially responsible for the array. In most cases, arrays tend to be owned by a third party, which can complicate risk mitigation and damage repair efforts. Be sure that this is decided on and understood early on.

Wind turbines

Wind turbines convert kinetic wind energy into electricity, using this to turn the blades of a rotor that is connected to a main shaft, which then spins a generator to create current. Along with solar, wind is a rapidly growing option and one of the most visible of the green-energy sources. Like solar, it has some key benefits, including the use of a free, abundant resource (wind) to create the electricity, as well as relatively low operational costs. Like solar, wind also has risks that should be factored into planning, installation and operation, including:

Noise from the whirring of the rotors, especially at large scale, can be quite disruptive

When equipment breaks down, replacement parts are expensive and lead times are long

Catastrophic failures can present projectile dangers (i.e., blades) to humans and buildings

Installation risks including falls, confined space, fire, electrical hazards, machine guarding, arc flash and elevation leave workers vulnerable to injury

Projects can take as long as two years to complete.

Cogeneration

Cogeneration systems are so-named because they produce both heat and power. The excess thermal energy produced in the production of electricity is captured and used for heating buildings or water, or even for powering absorption refrigeration to provide building cooling. As with both solar and wind, cogeneration can provide a measure of grid independence and insulation against price spikes and outages, and—in many areas—provide an income stream from excess energy sold back to the utility.

Like the systems themselves, the downsides of cogeneration can be a bit more complex. They include:

Substantial initial investment in equipment, construction and building upgrades

Complex systems requiring experienced operators and mechanics

Presence of pressurized oil lines near heat sources.

Ensure early, open and regular communication between risk management and the design teams

Involve your insurance broker and carrier early in the process to gain a full understanding of potential insurance implications of the project

As with any project, follow a general construction guide that includes risk management and insurance company involvement

Obtain credentials, licensing and insurance certificates for all contractors involved. Ensure the contractor is experienced and reputable. This applies to both installation and subsequent third-party operation

Obtain proper warranty documentation for any new equipment.

As technologies have matured, environmental concerns have grown and, where other fuels have become more unpredictable in cost, going green has gained real momentum. So, bringing some form of renewable energy to campus is likely a question not of “if” but of “how.” Risk is real, but with foresight, planning and insurance, it can be easy—and beneficial—to be green.

Amy Hahn is a lost-control engineer and certified fire-protection specialist at Risk Strategies Company, which is based in Boston.