Analysis and Design of Grounding Systems in High-Resistivity Soils for Large Electrical Installations

This paper presents the modeling and simulation of large-scale grounding systems applied to wind farms, photovoltaic plants, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Specifically, in the present paper a wind farm is analyzed using specialized software that accounts for soil characteristics and metallic structures, and the results are compared with those obtained from conventional software commonly used for substation grounding design. Simulations were carried out under defined operating conditions, and the results were validated through field measurements performed after construction of the grounding grid. The study underscores the limitations of conventional tools and advocates the need for specialized simulation software to enhance design accuracy, reduce electrical risks, and optimize…