Safety concerns have been raised over Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s plans to install solar panels across millions more British homes after a surge in house fires caused by the energy solution or their batteries.
According to data gathered by insurance company QBE, fire services were called out roughly every two days last year to incidents involving a solar panel.
The company found this marked a 60 per cent increase in the past two years.
However, QBE also found that fires were rising faster than the rate of solar panel installations, suggesting Ed Miliband's green agenda drive is not wholly responsible for the increase in incidents.
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Adrian Simmonds, a senior QBE risk manager, said: "Solar is essential to the UK’s clean energy transition but the rapid pace of deployment is raising risk concerns.
"Our analysis shows fires involving solar panels 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."
In one incident earlier this year, a rooftop fire sparked the evacuation of St Michael’s maternity hospital in Bristol.
While another incident in Church Crookham, Hampshire, caused damage to three flats in 2022.
A rooftop fire sparked the evacuation of St Michael’s maternity hospital in Bristol earlier this year
|PA
It is understood that both fires were linked to solar installations that were faulty or badly maintained.
Under plans put forward by Mr Miliband, the UK solar capacity is looking to be raised from 18 gigawatts to as much as 85 gigawatts by 2035.
Although some of these new panels will be ground-mounted and replace farmland across counties like Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Devon and Cornwall, a large proportion is also planned to be roof-mounted.
The Energy Secretary's Solar Roadmap plans to install rooftop panels on millions more homes in addition to the 1.5 million already equipped.
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Ed Miliband's Solar Roadmap plans to install rooftop panels on millions more homes in addition to the 1.5 million already equipped
|PA
The roadmap also proposes minimising planning requirements, which can incorporate safety regulations.
Analysis by QBE shows a total of 107 fires linked to solar panels were recorded in 2022.
At the time, the UK had about 1.3 million solar panels.
However by 2024, the number of fires had risen to 171 among the 1.7 million installed panels.
Data suggests that inverters were the most common cause of solar panel fires.
These are devices which convert electric currents from the type generated by the solar panels (DC) into alternating current (AC) used by the electricity grid.
However, this process generates heat, which means badly installed appliances can spark fires in lofts or cupboards where ventilation is often limited.
Solar Energy UK, the industry trade body, said: "If properly installed and maintained, the risk of fire is exceptionally low and rooftop solar is, of course, one of the very best ways to slash energy bills.
"The relatively few incidents of fire should be viewed in that context."
A spokesman for the Department of Energy said: "The risk of fire from solar panels is very low – much lower than other household appliances such as cookers.
"Solar panels should always be fitted by a certified installer, and can help families save around £500 a year on their energy bills as part of our rooftop revolution."
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