Fires linked to solar panels in the UK have more than doubled over the past three years, with 212 incidents recorded in 2025, according to new research. The number of blazes represents a significant increase from the 91 fires reported in 2022.
The data, obtained by business insurer QBE from fire and rescue services via the Freedom of Information Act, indicates that the majority of these fires occurred in residential homes, with 102 incidents in houses last year. This trend raises questions as the government aims for all new build properties to incorporate on-site renewable electricity generation.
Analysis of the incidents revealed that faulty cabling and connectors were the primary cause, accounting for 49 fires in 2025. The solar panels themselves were implicated in 36 fires, and battery banks in 23.
QBE reported that the rate of solar panel fires is increasing at more than double the pace of solar panel installations. In 2025, approximately 1.9 million renewable energy units were installed, a 52 percent increase from the 1.2 million installed in 2022. Adrian Simmonds, Risk Manager at QBE Insurance, stated that "installation quality and fire safety are not keeping pace with the speed of deployment." He emphasized that "solar energy is a key component to the UK's clean energy future and QBE fully supports its rapid expansion, but safety and risk mitigation must be the priority."
Despite these findings, a spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero asserted that the risk of fire from solar panels is "very low – much lower than other household appliances such as cookers." The department also noted that solar panels, when fitted by a certified installer, can help households save approximately £500 annually on energy bills.