Article 691 (NEW) Large-Scale Photovoltaic (PV) Power Production Facility

691.1 Scope. This article covers the installation of large-scale PV electric power production facilities with a generating capacity of no less than 5000 kW, and not under exclusive utility control.

Informational Note No. 1: Facilities covered by this article have specific design and safety features unique to large-scale PV facilities and are operated for the sole purpose of providing electric supply to a system operated by a regulated utility for the transfer of electric energy.

Informational Note No. 2: Section 90.2(B)(5) includes information about utility-owned properties not covered under this Code. For additional information on electric supply stations, see ANSI/IEEE C2-2012, National Electrical Safety Code.

Analysis of the Change

Article 691 was added to cover the installation of large scale PV electric power production facilities with a generating capacity of no less than 5,000 kW, and not under the exclusive control of the utility. The NEC has covered the installation of PV systems for several editions but has not covered PV systems that are contained in the scope of this article. Large-scale photovoltaic (PV) stations are designed for the supply of merchant power into the electricity grid. These stations are differentiated from most building-mounted and other decentralized solar power applications in that they supply power at the utility level, rather than to local users. This article is an attempt to keep up with the the rapid increase in the number of large-scale PV electric supply stations presents new challenges to authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). Due to the complexity of these systems, it is unlikely that the AHJ will have expertise in the design and construction of multi-megawatt PV power plants.

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