Blog » Oil Containment Products for Solar and Wind Farms
As some of the cleanest natural resources on the planet, solar energy and wind power offer significant benefits, from reducing air pollution to decreasing operational costs. Unlike power sources such as coal and natural gas, solar and wind power emit little or no carbon dioxide, one of the most prevalent and harmful greenhouse gases. Despite these advantages, solar and wind farms require transformers using large amounts of oil to operate, posing a possible risk without the correct protective measures.
Why Solar and Wind Farms Need Secondary Oil Spill Containment
Both solar and wind farm facilities rely on transformers to keep everything running smoothly. These transformers are filled with insulating and cooling oils, which protect the transformer’s efficiency and equipment.
Cargill® and Midel® vegetable oils are among the most preferred solutions for power transformer insulation because of their superior cooling capacity, cost-efficiency and optimal pouring point in a diverse temperature range. These fluids are exceptionally moisture tolerant and can extend a transformer’s insulation life. They also allow farms to operate transformers at higher temperatures and produce more power without upgrading to a larger unit.
While this oil is critical to energy production, it can harm the environment. A solar transformer oil spill can permeate soil and water, causing expensive downtime. Facilities must implement solar oil containment solutions to protect the Earth and remain compliant.
Wind turbine applications use oil in transformers, hydraulic systems, circuit breakers and gearboxes for the same reasons. Although wind and solar energy are among the cleanest and most sustainable solutions, they are still somewhat vulnerable to transformer malfunctions and potential oil spills. Like other types of power generation, solar and wind farms must follow guidelines outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule.
The Importance of Oil Containment for Renewable Energy
Transformer oil is constantly working in your solar energy systems. While modern equipment is durable, oil leaks can still happen. Even vegetable-based oils can cause environmental harm when spilled. Investing in oil containment for solar farms to protect local ecosystems is critical. The transformer oil contains toxic pollutants, whether it’s oil waste or leaks. When these pollutants enter the water and soil, they can affect the health of plants, water and animals.
Environmental dangers are a serious concern when working with transformer oil. Facilities should also invest in oil containment to avoid regulatory issues. Many regulatory agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), regulate oil spills. Noncompliance could mean fines and legal penalties as well as reputational damage.
How Oil Spills Happen
Understanding how issues happen is the first step to helping prevent solar oil spills. Typically, spills occur due to equipment failure, human error or poor maintenance. Causes of solar oil spills can include:
1. Equipment Failure
Aging infrastructure or poor maintenance can lead to oil spills. Over time, seals, gaskets and components can degrade. As they break down, oil slips through, spilling out into the environment. Routine maintenance is essential for catching problems early. If a surprise leak happens, you need containment systems in place to stop oil in its tracks.
2. Weather Events
Weather events are another culprit in oil leaks. High winds, flooding and severe storms can damage transformers or overwhelm poor containment systems. When this happens, oil quickly seeps into the surrounding soil and water. Solar farms are often in open areas, which makes them vulnerable to weather-related risks.
3. Physical Damage
Physical force can suddenly leak oil everywhere. Damage from machinery strikes or construction activity can compromise your equipment’s integrity. A surprise damage incident could leave your components in poor shape. You must have proactive measures in place to keep oil contained.
4. Human Error
Improper maintenance or failure to follow safety protocols are avoidable causes of oil spills. The better trained your team, the lower the risk. If someone overfills a transformer’s oil reservoir or fails to secure valves, you might see sudden oil leaks.
5. Temperature Fluctuations
Temperature fluctuations are another cause to monitor. Temperature changes can lead to thermal expansion and contraction inside the transformer. These changes stress seals and connections over time, wearing them out faster. Watch the temperature and stick to scheduled maintenance plans to prevent these issues.
Legal Compliance for Solar & Wind Oil Containment
Solar oil containment compliance is critical for solar farms and facilities. Several different agencies have regulations in place to protect our resources from spills. Substation and utilities engineers should be aware of these guidelines to keep operations compliant.
SPCC
A solar or wind farm storing over 1,320 gallons of oil must prepare and maintain an SPCC plan to avoid fines and penalties from the EPA. These plans typically contain secondary spill containment solutions to capture leaks and spills during a transformer failure.
One of the most practical spill response solutions is installing a secondary containment system with an impervious barrier capable of containing the oil volume held by the largest vessel. This oil containment solution also needs to accommodate a reasonable amount of precipitation during rainfall. These systems allow rain to drain passively through a barrier but are impervious to oil, preventing hydrocarbons from migrating outside the spill containment area.
Other Relevant Compliance Laws:
SWPPP: The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is another relevant guide. Businesses must identify potential pollution sources and implement prevention strategies to keep oil out of stormwater systems.
FRP: The Facility Response Plan (FRP) is a requirement for facilities that store large oil quantities. They ensure operators have protocols in place to handle significant spills while limiting environmental damage.
How to Prevent Oil Spills From Solar Transformers
Effective solar secondary oil containment starts with proactive measures. Your operation needs to address leaks and environmental protection. With your solar transformers at the heart of energy production, secondary containment systems are critical.
1. Petro-Pipes® and Petro Barrier™ Systems
Soy-designated oil containment products from Solidification Products International, Inc. (SPI) can stop spills and leaks from transformers, specifically those cooled by Midel’s 7131 oils, Cargill’s oils and FR3 oils, and Mobil’s synthetic lube oils. Our PIT-416 and PIT-416-UV Petro-Pipe models are among our front-running systems for stopping these spills, with the PIT-46-UV offering the added capability of withstanding ultra-high desert temperatures. Both models allow rainwater to drain through while filtering fuel and vegetable oil sheens to nondetectable levels.
During a major spill, the Petro-Pipe shuts down entirely and backs the oil into the containment area. SPI constructs each Petro-Barrier System for each client’s needs, accounting for crucial factors like rainfall amounts, land-slope angles, drain percolation rates and containment area sizes.
2. Berm Liners
Berm Liners are another essential containment method. You place these liners around and under transformers to create a watertight barrier. Berm liners are durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions. They can be used as a long-term solution for protecting the soil on solar farms.
3. Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance is essential for containing oil. When maintenance is neglected, seals and components wear out, leading to oil leaks. Outdated transformers can fail, spilling oil into the environment. You need regular maintenance and inspections to catch potential problems before they lead to leaks and noncompliance.
4. Proper Training
Personnel handling transformer maintenance require proper training. Employees and engineers should know how to identify early leak signs and follow containment protocols. Your facility must have spill response plans in place to manage spills immediately.
Why SPI?
Solidification Products International Inc. (SPI) is a leader in oil containment. SPI brings over 30 years of expertise in preventing hydrocarbon releases into the environment. Our patented technologies, including Petro-Plugs®, Petro-Pipes® and Petro-Barriers™, are engineered to drain water while containing oil.
SPI’s commitment to innovation and quality is evident in everything we do. Our ISO 9001:2015 certification proves our dedication to international standards. By choosing SPI, you get customized solutions tailored to your specific project needs. Partner with our team to support a veteran-owned company devoted to environmental protection and regulatory compliance.
Protect Your Solar Farm With SPI’s Oil Containment Solutions
Oil spill prevention measures protect the environment and help you stay compliant. SPI offers innovative, reliable solutions that help you achieve both. Our proven products work to hold oil back, and our experts work with you to deliver custom containment systems that protect your operation from spills and fines.
Secure your site with trusted oil containment technology. Contact SPI online to learn more about how our solutions can prevent and contain oil spills at your solar site!
