Residential buildings account for most UK solar panel fires, QBE warns

QBE FOI data shows rising trend

QBE has reported that UK fire services tackled a fire involving a solar panel once almost every two days in 2024.

The company said this represents a 60% rise in incidents involving solar panels between 2022 and 2024.

The findings are based on responses to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests sent to UK fire services in August 2025.

QBE stated that fires are increasing faster than the rate of new solar installations across the UK.

The insurer linked this change to incorrect installation or poor maintenance in part of the growing installed base.

The research comes as the UK records new highs in solar panel deployment on homes, commercial buildings and solar farms.

Adrian Simmonds, practice leader for property risk solutions at QBE Insurance, 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.”

Incidents rising faster than panel deployment

According to QBE, UK fire services recorded 107 fires involving a solar panel in 2022.

The company reported that this rose to 128 incidents in 2023 and 171 in 2024.

Over the same period, QBE said the total number of installed solar panels nationally grew from 1,309,447 in 2022 to 1,697,231 in 2024.

That change represents a 29.6% increase in installed panels over two years compared with a 59.8% increase in fires involving solar panels.

QBE highlighted that as of August 2025 there were 1,834,584 solar panels installed across the UK.

The data combines FOI responses from fire services with government solar photovoltaics deployment statistics published in August 2025.

QBE said this combined dataset underpins its view that fire incident growth is outpacing the expansion of solar capacity.

Residential properties see most recorded fires

QBE’s analysis found that most fires involving a solar panel in 2024 occurred in residential buildings.

The FOI data shows 97 solar panel fires recorded in residential buildings during 2024.

The company reported a further 27 incidents in commercial properties and 17 at solar farms.

Industrial buildings accounted for 10 recorded fires linked to solar panels in the same year.

QBE stated that only 37 of the 49 UK fire services were able to provide data for the FOI exercise.

The insurer said this gap indicates that the true number of incidents is likely to be higher than the recorded figures.

QBE noted that the pattern of incidents reinforces the need for installation and maintenance controls in domestic as well as commercial settings.

Inverters and system components linked to origin

According to the FOI data, many fires in 2024 originated in inverters or on the solar panels themselves.

QBE reported 21 fires starting in the inverter and 20 originating on the solar panel.

The data records 16 incidents linked to direct current cabling and 12 originating in battery banks.

The insurer stated that improper installation is a frequent contributing factor, including loose connections, damaged wires or faulty wiring that can lead to arc faults or other electrical issues.

QBE added that component defects, high current and external factors such as moisture, extreme weather and dirt or foliage on panels also feature in incident patterns.

The company described the inverter as the hardest-working component in a solar panel system and prone to failure if installed incorrectly or poorly maintained.

According to QBE, inverters generate substantial heat, so poor ventilation, dust build-up or blocked cooling systems can quickly increase fire risk.

The insurer said inverters may be positioned indoors or outdoors but should have good ventilation, no obstruction and timely replacement.

Battery storage and extreme weather increase risk

QBE linked its findings on solar panel fires to wider trends in UK energy and storage.

The company referenced the Clean Power Action Plan, under which the UK aims to generate enough clean electricity to meet its annual demand by 2030.

QBE noted that this plan involves increasing solar deployment from 18 gigawatts to between 45 and 47 gigawatts.

The insurer highlighted particular focus on rooftop capacity across commercial buildings, warehouses and industrial premises.

According to QBE, the largest 20% of UK warehouses provide around 75 million square metres of roof space, which is estimated to support roughly 15 gigawatts of rooftop solar capacity.

The company said that as rooftop deployment expands, robust design, cabling and isolation systems will be needed to prevent and control fires and to protect business continuity.

QBE also pointed to the rapid adoption of lithium-ion batteries in domestic and commercial solar systems as a growing concern.

Simmonds said: “Most new domestic and commercial systems now include battery storage, introducing additional fire risks when units are installed in lofts, airing cupboards or upper-floor spaces that are difficult to access in an emergency.

“Combined with limited inspection and cleaning, these installations increase the likelihood and potential severity of fires.”

QBE reminded readers that in 2024 it reported UK fire services had attended 1,330 lithium-ion battery fires, averaging one incident every three days.

The company now expects that as battery use expands, battery units could become a leading source of fires linked to solar panel systems.

Simmonds noted that extreme weather could further affect these installations and their fire risk.

Simmonds said: “Roofs and panels should be inspected after storms or high winds, as even minor dislodgement or debris can increase fire risk.”

QBE stated that systems are typically designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 120 miles per hour.

The insurer noted that recent storms such as Storm Ashley have exceeded this threshold in some locations, with high winds capable of uplifting panels or exposing cabling.

QBE added that hail, dust and prolonged heat can damage panel surfaces and insulation, reinforcing the need for inspection after severe weather, hail or flooding events.

The company recommended that property owners apply “one-in-100-year” criteria at the design stage for roofs with solar installations.

QBE outlines prevention and maintenance measures

QBE has set out a series of practical steps for homeowners and businesses to reduce the likelihood of solar panel fires.

The company recommended the use of certified solar panel installers, for example Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited providers.

QBE advised property owners to arrange annual inspections and to clean solar panels to reduce overheating and debris build-up.

The insurer said building owners should check that fireman’s switches and arc-fault detection systems are correctly installed and remain accessible.

QBE also recommended avoiding the installation of solar panels on combustible roofs or ensuring suitable separation and fire-resistant barriers where such roofs are present.

The company advised that installations should be inspected after extreme weather such as high winds, hail or flooding to identify damage or dislodged components.

Simmonds continued: “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.”

Implications for UK fire and risk management

UK fire and rescue chiefs and senior officers can use QBE’s FOI findings to review how often crews are attending incidents linked to solar panel systems and where these calls are most likely to occur.

Risk assessors, fire engineering consultants and electrical contractors may draw on the data about inverters, cabling and battery banks as common points of fire origin when reviewing system designs on existing and proposed installations.

Facility managers in residential, commercial and industrial buildings can factor the incident trends into inspection schedules, roof access planning and post-storm checks for rooftop solar arrays.

System installers and fire-protection contractors can align their installation practices and maintenance offerings with the areas QBE highlights, including certified fitting, ventilation around inverters and clear access to fireman’s switches.

Architects and building services engineers involved in projects under the Clean Power Action Plan can take account of the findings when specifying rooftop solar on large warehouses and complex buildings where fire risk, roof construction and access routes intersect.

Insurers and corporate risk managers may reference the incident rates and loss drivers identified by QBE when setting requirements for formal risk assessments, inspection frequency and component selection in solar projects.