Everything you need to know about solar panel fires – including how to reduce the risk
Solar panels have been named as the ‘likely’ cause of a recent fire that completely destroyed a mental health hospital ward. The Springwood unit at Malton Hospital, located in North Yorkshire, England, was...
Solar panels have been named as the ‘likely’ cause of a recent fire that completely destroyed a mental health hospital ward.
The Springwood unit at Malton Hospital, located in North Yorkshire, England, was set ablaze on 8 July. Local fire and rescue services say the building was “fully engulfed” when crews arrived.
All 15 patients were safely evacuated from the unit, and no injuries were reported. A full report into the blaze is expected in the coming weeks.
The fire follows three similar incidents at primary schools in England over the last 12 months, which have all been blamed on solar panels. This led to around 80 schools in the county of Suffolk switching off their solar panels as a precautionary measure.
The council says the primary school fires were all believed to have had different causes rather than a common fault with the panels.
However, it still casts a light on the potential dangers of installing rooftop solar on public buildings and residential homes.
Are solar panel fires on the rise in Europe?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, which are individual solar cells that convert sunlight into power, have become the most competitive source of electricity in many parts of the EU.
According to Eurostat data, 47.5 per cent of the EU’s electricity consumption came from renewables in 2024, and solar PV accounted for almost a quarter of that (23.4 per cent).
The sheer boom in solar panels has increased the number of fire incidents and subsequent media attention around them. However, the per-system risk remains extremely low.
Data from Dutch research institute TNO reported that, between 2015 and 2018, only 27 fires on buildings with PV occurred in the Netherlands – with residential buildings accounting for 23 of the fires.
With 170,000 new PV systems installed on residential buildings in 2018, this represents less than 0.014 per cent of homes with solar panels.
Between 1993 and 2013, German research institute Fraunhofer ISE reported that 0.006 per cent of PV installations caused a fire with major damage. Of Germany’s total 1.3 million solar PV installations in 2013, 350 were involved in fires, while 120 were attributed to the actual cause of the blaze.
But data on solar-related fires remains sparse.
A study published last month in the journal Science Direct analysed national statistics from four European countries. It found that the number of incidents per 100,000 installations was found to be approximately 5-22 for the UK, Italy and Sweden, compared with 75 in Slovenia.
“These differences are likely influenced by variations in data collection methods and inclusion criteria across the countries,” the report says.
Researchers found that about 68 per cent of fires remained confined to the PV equipment, while 24 per cent caused damage to adjacent surfaces – such as the roof. In five per cent of cases, significant fire spread occurred, while buildings being completely destroyed only accounted for three per cent of fires.
What causes solar panels to catch fire?
The European Commission says that solar panel fires occur at a rate “significantly lower” than that of many common household appliances.
“When issues do arise, they are typically linked to poor installation or faulty components, not the solar technology itself,” the bloc adds.
Across Europe, strong safeguards are in place to keep solar installations safe. This includes making sure that all panels (whether they’re imported or produced in the EU) meet strict technical requirements.
“To ensure systems are installed properly, EU countries must have certification schemes (or equivalents) for solar photovoltaic installers and designers, as required by the Renewables Directive,” the Commission adds.
“These schemes include training programmes and public lists of certified installers.”
How to lower the risk of solar panel fires
Any system that captures the energy of the sun is likely to have some level of fire risk. This is particularly true for installations that are ageing and poorly maintained.
To lower the risk of solar panel fires, only use accredited installers and do not attempt to attach panels to rooftops yourself. Wall-mounted inverters should also be bolted onto non-flammable surfaces and away from heavy debris or storage materials.
Homeowners should also have regular inspections, carried out by professionals, to check and service panels every couple of years. It is also worth inspecting your panels after extreme weather, such as strong winds, to make sure nothing has shifted.
