Homeowners are voicing concerns over fire safety following a significant increase in incidents involving solar panels, which experts suggest may be linked to installation quality and the rapid pace of renewable energy adoption. These events have led to devastating property loss and highlighted potential risks amidst the UK's drive towards Net Zero emissions.
Mark Evans, a homeowner from Essex, lost his house in an inferno that he believes was caused by his solar panels. The fire, which began on the roof of his property completed in 2018, spread rapidly, destroying the entire structure. "We literally lost everything," Evans stated, describing the event as the worst moment of his life and emphasizing the irreplaceable loss of personal items like photo albums and family heirlooms.
Alarming data released this month indicates a 133% rise in fires involving solar panels in the UK between 2022 and 2025, with incidents increasing from 91 to 212. These fires damaged 102 homes and commercial buildings, including schools and hospitals. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has noted a lack of evidence-based information regarding the frequency of such fires, their causes, and development.
The National Fire Chiefs Council has expressed concern that the government's efforts to expedite the implementation of renewable technologies may not adequately consider building and fire safety risks. This concern is echoed by homeowners like Tammi Atherton from Bristol, whose home was also engulfed in flames attributed by the fire service to solar panels on her roof. In another incident in Wellingborough, a home valued at approximately £600,000 suffered severe damage after solar panels reportedly exploded.
Experts suggest that the quality of installation is a primary factor. Adrian Simmonds, risk manager at insurer QBE, stated that "installation quality and fire safety are not keeping pace with the speed of deployment." He identified poor cabling and connectors as leading causes of fires, which can then spread to the wider building. The incorporation of battery storage in newer solar systems also introduces an additional layer of fire risk, particularly when units are located in less accessible areas like lofts.
Incidents have not been limited to private residences. In July, a fire at Malton Hospital in North Yorkshire, which destroyed the building, is believed to have involved solar panels. Similarly, a fire at East Bergholt Primary School in Suffolk was also blamed on solar panels. Last October, approximately 250 people were evacuated from an Ikea store in Wembley, London, due to a roof fire involving around 100 solar panels.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) warns that poorly installed or inadequately maintained solar systems could invalidate insurance policies. Despite these concerns, the government is moving forward with plans to make plug-in solar panels available for retail sale, which electrical contractors fear could exacerbate existing safety issues.
However, the solar industry maintains that the majority of the UK's over two million rooftop solar installations operate safely. A spokesperson for Solar Energy UK noted that as deployment increases, the number of incidents may also rise, but this does not necessarily indicate a decline in safety. For homeowners like Mark Evans, however, even a statistically small risk can have catastrophic consequences.