HUGE breakthrough for rooftop solar (UL 3741 and news from Ironridge!) [Video]

It’s a long time coming, but maybe we can FINALLY ditch optimizers and microinverters as a standard feature of solar installations.

@IronRidgeSolar’s press release: https://www.ironridge.com/2024/02/27/flush-mount-systems-listed-to-ul-3741/

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# Links:
* Dietz & Watson warehouse fire: https://www.nj.com/burlington/2013/09/dietz_and_watson_warehouse_fire_solar_panels_make_battling_blaze_much_harder_officials_say.html
* You can find all National Electrical Code related documents at: https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-70-standard-development/70
* Heliovolta/@solargrade op-ed in Solar Builder Mag: https://solarbuildermag.com/featured/rapid-shutdown-connectors-supply-chain-leave-few-good-options-for-safe-pv-system-design/
* English-translated German study on PV system safety: https://docslib.org/doc/9138763/assessing-fire-risks-in-photovoltaic-systems-and-developing-safety-concepts-for-risk-minimization
* Sandia National Labs study on PV system safety: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8366192
* @smasolartechnology and Sollega debut first UL 3741 listed system: https://www.sma-america.com/newsroom/news-details/sma-america-and-sollega-partner-to-debut-the-first-ul-3741-pvhcs-certified-commercial-and-industrial-rooftop-pv-system-in-compliance-with-nec-69012
* Chiko USA’s sort-of announcement that they got listed: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chiko-usa_ul3741-listing-obtained-we-at-chiko-usa-activity-7161866447403642880-MlEO

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:36 Firefighters & Solar
2:39 The history of rapid shutdown rules in the NEC
5:42 Requirement to use module-level power electronics (MLPEs)
7:27 Reliability of MLPEs
8:53 Research on firefighter safety
9:46 UL 3741
12:00 UL 3741 for residential systems
14:43 Ironridge’s implementation
16:57 Everything old is new again