IEC TS 62738-2018 PDF

Full title and description

IEC TS 62738:2018 — Ground-mounted photovoltaic power plants - Design guidelines and recommendations. This Technical Specification provides general guidelines and recommendations for the design and installation of grid‑connected, ground‑mounted photovoltaic (PV) power plants (multiple PV arrays interconnected to a utility medium‑ or high‑voltage grid), with emphasis on aspects that distinguish utility‑scale, ground‑mounted plants from smaller or building‑mounted systems.

Abstract

IEC TS 62738:2018 sets out recommended practices for layout, electrical collection and interconnection, cable routing and selection, overcurrent protection strategies, equipotential bonding across large areas, monitoring and restricted‑access considerations, and equipment selection for ground‑mounted PV power plants. It references established PV installation standards (for example IEC 62548) where normative requirements exist and focuses on design choices unique to large, ground‑mounted plants.

General information

• Status: Published Technical Specification (active/valid publication).
• Publication date: 15 August 2018.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 27.160 (Solar energy engineering).
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0 (2018).
• Number of pages: 47 pages (published PDF length).

Scope

This Technical Specification applies to ground‑mounted, grid‑connected PV power plants that are restricted from access by non‑qualified persons and are subject to continuous monitoring for safety and protection (on‑site or remote). It covers system configurations and design topics that are particular to utility‑scale, ground‑mounted installations—excluding rooftop, building‑integrated or building‑applied PV systems—and provides guidance for collection systems, substation and medium‑voltage interfacing, array layout, large‑area equipotential bonding, cable selection and routing, overcurrent protection strategies, and equipment considerations. Where appropriate, the document points to other IEC standards to address prescriptive safety and design requirements.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and classification of ground‑mounted, grid‑connected PV power plants and applicability limits compared with building‑mounted PV systems.
• Ground‑mounted array configurations and layout recommendations to optimise generation, maintainability and safety.
• Cable routing methods and selection criteria for DC and AC collection systems, including long‑distance cable considerations and transitions to medium‑voltage equipment.
• Overcurrent protection strategies tailored to large collection systems and multiple inverter/transformer arrangements.
• Equipotential bonding and earthing approaches across large geographic areas to manage touch and step potentials and to support protection coordination.
• Equipment considerations for inverters, transformers, switchgear, monitoring/SCADA interfaces, auxiliary systems and provisions for restricted access and continuous monitoring.
• Reference to relevant IEC documents for prescriptive safety, testing and module/inverter requirements (for example IEC 62548 and other PV and electrical installation standards).

Typical use and users

Used by PV plant designers, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractors, electrical engineers, utility interconnection planners, project developers, asset owners, operations & maintenance teams, safety officers and standards bodies when establishing design practices, procurement specifications and technical review criteria for ground‑mounted PV power plants. It is referenced during conceptual design, detailed engineering, commissioning planning and O&M procedure development.

Related standards

Commonly referenced standards and documents include IEC 62548 (design requirements for photovoltaic arrays), IEC 62446 (grid‑connected PV system documentation, commissioning and testing), IEC 61730 (PV module safety qualification), IEC 61215 (crystalline silicon PV module qualification), and the IEC 60364 series (electrical installations). IEC TS 62738 positions itself as a guidance document that points to these and other normative standards for specific testing, safety and component requirements.

Keywords

ground‑mounted PV, photovoltaic power plant, PV plant design, cable routing, equipotential bonding, overcurrent protection, grid interconnection, PV array layout, monitoring, IEC 62738, IEC TS 62738:2018

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC TS 62738:2018 is a Technical Specification that provides guidelines and recommendations for the design and installation of ground‑mounted, grid‑connected photovoltaic power plants (utility‑scale solar farms).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers layout and array configurations, collection system design, cable selection and routing, overcurrent protection strategies, equipotential bonding across large sites, equipment selection and interfaces to medium‑/high‑voltage grid connections, and monitoring/operational considerations. It excludes rooftop and building‑integrated PV systems.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: PV plant designers, EPC contractors, utilities, project developers, O&M teams, electrical and safety engineers, and standards committees use it when planning, designing, procuring or operating ground‑mounted PV plants.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: IEC TS 62738:2018 was published on 15 August 2018 as Edition 1.0. Users should check national adoption or any later revisions/adoptions by national bodies for local status; as of the original publication it is the 2018 Technical Specification edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is a Technical Specification produced under IEC TC 82 (Solar photovoltaic energy systems) and is intended to be used alongside other IEC standards for PV systems and electrical installations (for example IEC 62548 and the broader IEC PV and electrical installation series).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Ground‑mounted PV, photovoltaic power plant, plant design, collection system, cable routing, equipotential bonding, overcurrent protection, IEC TS 62738:2018.