Clean energy upgrade may be increasing home fire risk

Fires involving solar panels have increased by almost 60% across the past two years, with a related fire being seen on 171 days of 2024.

The dramatic rise from 107 incidents in 2022 followed a record number of solar panel installations in the UK, with the nationwide count climbing from 1,309,000 in 2022 to 1,697,000 in 2024 – a 29.6% increase.

Insurer QBE, which sourced the statistics via a freedom of information request to the UK government, said the figures could indicate increased levels of “incorrect installation or maintenance”.

Indeed, the growth in panel-related fires has outpaced the growth of new installations by 30 percentage points over the two-year timeframe.

Residential properties

The firm’s research also indicated that the majority of fires took place in residential buildings – some 97 of the total – while commercial properties (27), solar farms (17) and industrial buildings (10) saw fewer incidents.

The high levels of occurrence in residential buildings compared to high-density locations such as solar farms again suggests that improper installation is putting homeowners at risk.

Adrian Simmonds, practice leader for property risk solutions at QBE, said: “Solar technology is an essential part of the UK’s clean energy transition, but the rapid pace of deployment is cause for concern for risk management.

“Our analysis shows fires involving solar panel fires have risen at twice the rate of new installations over the past two years. Safe solar panel installation and maintenance are essential to reducing fires.

“We strongly encourage property owners to carry out formal risk assessments, engage certified installers and ensure regular inspections and cleaning. These simple steps can significantly reduce the chance of fire.”