Skripsi
PERANCANGAN SISTEM PROTEKSI EKSTERNAL PADA PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK TENAGA SURYA
Indonesia, as a tropical country with high lightning intensity, requires an effective external lightning protection system for large-scale solar power plants to ensure operational continuity. This research designs an external lightning protection system for a 63-hectare solar power plant in Tanjung Pasir using IEC 62305 standard with Rolling Sphere Method approach at protection level III (45-meter radius). The system consists of 343 air termination units with 11.5-meter height, bare core 50 mm² conductors, and grounding system with 4.15-ohm resistance. The design utilizes SketchUp 3D modeling for visualization and ATP Draw simulation with Heidler 30 kA impulse current injection (1.2/50 μs). Air termination spacing is designed at 40-45 meters based on maximum distance calculation of 60.09 meters, providing full coverage without blind spots across 15 solar plant blocks. Simulation results show the system effectively conducts 30 kA lightning current without significant reflection or distortion. Maximum transient voltage recorded at approximately 20 kV and subsides within 50 μs, consistent with IEC 1.2/50 μs standard impulse wave characteristics. The designed protection system meets IEC 62305 standards and effectively handles direct lightning strikes. Development of internal protection system is recommended for comprehensive protection of sensitive electronic equipment.