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Fire
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Photovoltaic and Electrical Fires: 2nd Edition
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Photovoltaic and Electrical Fires: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Fire (ISSN 2571-6255). This special issue belongs to the section "Fire Risk Assessment and Safety Management in Buildings and Urban Spaces".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 1703

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ying Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Safety Science and Emergency Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: cable and electrical fires; thermal safety of new energy; fire dynamics; modelling and investigation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Xiaoyu Ju

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Interests: scale modeling of wildland/building fire; photovoltaic fire safety; battery fire safety; fire emissions and pollution control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yang Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Investigation Academy, China People's Police University, Langfang, China
Interests: fire Investigation; electrical fires
Dr. Wang Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Tianjin Fire Science and Technology Research Institute, Tianjin, China
Interests: photovoltaic fire; explosive characteristics of substance; energy of ignition source and ignition characteristics
Dr. Kaixuan Tang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Safety Science and Emergency Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: prevention and control of photovoltaic and electrical fires; thermal safety in new energy utilization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the context of the global energy transition, photovoltaic (PV) power generation, as a representative of clean energy, is rapidly spreading and becoming an integral part of the future energy system. However, PV systems and their electrical components are exposed to extreme environments over long periods, being affected by high temperature, humidity, and lightning strike; thus, the issues of electrical faults and wiring aging are exacerbated, increasing the risk of PV and electrical fires. PV fires are typically caused by electrical component faults (such as short circuits, overloads, and arcs); thus, the occurrence of PV fires is also accompanied by electrical fires. Additionally, the complex structures of PV systems, the presence of high voltages and continuous currents in electrical wiring, and the insignificant smoke or flame in the early stages of a PV fire pose major challenges for photovoltaic fire detection and prevention.

This Special Issue will comprehensively explore PV and electrical fires, including the behaviors and mechanisms of their occurrence, as well as evolutionary detection and prevention technology and risk assessment methods, to provide new ideas for improving the safety of PV and electrical systems, thus promoting the widespread application of PV technology in a safer environment. Original submissions are welcome, with potential topics including but not limited to the following:

  • Ignition mechanism of PV module;
  • Flame spread behavior of PV panel or array;
  • Detection and prevention technology for PV fires;
  • Risk assessment for PV fires;
  • Mechanisms of electrical fault and electrical fire;
  • Evolution law of electrical fire;
  • Detection and control technology for electrical fire.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Ying Zhang
Prof. Dr. Xiaoyu Ju
Dr. Yang Li
Dr. Wang Zhang
Dr. Kaixuan Tang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fire is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • photovoltaic fire
  • electrical fire
  • fire modeling
  • flame spread
  • risk assessment
  • fire detection
  • fire prevention

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 15501 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on the Burning Characteristics of Photovoltaic Modules with Different Inclination Angles Under the Pool Fire
by Jingwen Xiao, Dong Lin, Jia Zeng, Shuai Zhang and Jinlong Zhao
Fire 2025, 8(4), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8040143 - 2 Apr 2025
Viewed by 239
Abstract
Mountain photovoltaic (PV) power stations cover vast areas and contain dense equipment. Once direct current arc faults occur in PV modules, they can pose a serious thermal threat to surrounding facilities and combustible materials, potentially resulting in a PV array fire accident. In [...] Read more.
Mountain photovoltaic (PV) power stations cover vast areas and contain dense equipment. Once direct current arc faults occur in PV modules, they can pose a serious thermal threat to surrounding facilities and combustible materials, potentially resulting in a PV array fire accident. In this work, a series of PV module fire experiments were conducted to investigate the burning characteristics of PV modules exposed to the pool fire. The burning process, burning damage extent, and temperature distribution were measured and analyzed. The results showed that the surfaces of PV modules exhibited different burning characteristics due to the pool fire. Based on different characteristics, the front side was classified into four zones: intact zone, delamination zone, carbonization zone and burn-through zone. The back side was similarly divided into four zones: undamaged backsheet zone, burnt TPT zone, cell detachment zone and burn-through zone. Meanwhile, the burning process and surface temperature rise rate of intact PV modules were significantly lower than those of cracked modules at the same inclination angle. Cracked modules exhibited a heightened susceptibility to being rapidly burnt through by the pool fire. As the inclination angle increased from 0° to 60°, the burning damage extent and the expansion rate of high-temperature regions initially ascended and subsequently decreased, reaching their maximum at the inclination angle of 15°. These findings can offer valuable insights that can serve as a reference for the fire protection design and risk assessment of mountain PV power stations, ensuring their safe operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photovoltaic and Electrical Fires: 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 373 KiB  
Article
Fire Safety Assessment of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPVs)
by Ping Fang, Lihong Zhao, Guangheng Song, Jiaqi Dong, Jinlong Zhao and Zhenhua Wang
Fire 2025, 8(2), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8020052 - 27 Jan 2025
Viewed by 901
Abstract
Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems, which seamlessly integrate solar photovoltaic components into building structures, have garnered widespread attention for their aesthetic appeal and energy efficiency. However, the promotion of BIPV systems has also raised new fire safety concerns. This paper reviews recent fire incident [...] Read more.
Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems, which seamlessly integrate solar photovoltaic components into building structures, have garnered widespread attention for their aesthetic appeal and energy efficiency. However, the promotion of BIPV systems has also raised new fire safety concerns. This paper reviews recent fire incident cases and conducts risk identification for factors such as building and environmental risks, photovoltaic systems, electrical equipment, and safety protection. A fire risk assessment is performed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate the overall fire safety of BIPV systems. Based on the assessment, corresponding safety design strategies are proposed to ensure the safety of buildings and occupants. The research results indicate that BIPV systems pose certain fire hazards, and that proper design and regulation are crucial to mitigate these risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photovoltaic and Electrical Fires: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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35 pages, 3223 KiB  
Review
A Review of Safety Measures in Battery Electric Buses
by Edoardo Di Liberto, Romano Borchiellini, Daniel Fruhwirt and Davide Papurello
Fire 2025, 8(4), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8040159 - 21 Apr 2025
Viewed by 205
Abstract
Battery electric buses (BEBs) are widely regarded as a safe and sustainable alternative to internal combustion vehicles. However, the lithium-ion batteries that power them present safety risks. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the safety of battery electric buses, highlighting current challenges, [...] Read more.
Battery electric buses (BEBs) are widely regarded as a safe and sustainable alternative to internal combustion vehicles. However, the lithium-ion batteries that power them present safety risks. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the safety of battery electric buses, highlighting current challenges, relevant regulations and proposed solutions to enhance safety. There are significant shortcomings in the fire safety regulations for buses, especially concerning qualification methods for bus interiors. Enclosed spaces and structures represent the most critical risks for these transport systems. The presence of large vehicles, such as BEBs, in tunnels could increase the risk of transitioning from deflagration to detonation. Fires involving such vehicles produce more soot than fires from internal combustion engine buses (ICEBs) and have slightly higher toxicity levels. High-pressure water spraying systems are not yet an effective solution, as not all the heat is removed if the thermal runaway has already been triggered for several minutes, and their action remains largely limited to the outside of the battery pack. Another critical issue is cybersecurity. Managing and protecting BEBs from cyber threats is complex and requires robust strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photovoltaic and Electrical Fires: 2nd Edition)
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