As Europe rapidly expands rooftop solar installations, researchers are warning that inconsistent reporting of photovoltaic (PV) fire incidents is making it difficult to accurately assess risks and improve safety standards.
A new study titled ‘Fire incidents involving photovoltaic systems – An analysis of different national statistics,’ comparing national fire statistics from the UK, Italy, Sweden and Slovenia, found that reported PV related fire rates differ significantly between countries, but much of that variation appears to stem from differences in how incidents are recorded rather than actual differences in system safety.
The findings come as the European Union moves ahead with new building regulations that will require solar PV systems on a growing range of buildings. By 2030, all suitable buildings across the EU, including hospitals, schools, warehouses, hotels, museums and historic buildings, are expected to install rooftop solar where technically and economically feasible.
The rapid expansion is already underway. Sweden’s number of grid connected solar installations has increased from about 10,000 in 2016 to almost 300,000 by 2024. Across Europe, installed solar capacity grew from 207 GW in 2022 to 308 GW in 2024, an increase of almost 50% in just two years.
Against this backdrop, the researchers examined reported fire incidents between 2015 and 2024 to better understand how often PV related fires occur, what typically causes them and how severe the consequences can be.
The study found annual fire rates ranging from about two to four fires per GW of installed capacity in the UK, five to 13 in Italy, seven to 19 in Sweden and 35 to 40 in Slovenia. When measured by the number of installations, the UK recorded fewer than five fires per 100,000 systems annually, compared with 14 to 24 in Italy, 11 to 31 in Sweden and about 80 in Slovenia.
According to the researchers, these differences are unlikely to reflect actual safety performance. Instead, they are primarily linked to variations in national reporting systems, including what qualifies as a PV related fire and how incidents are identified.
The study also highlights that many smaller incidents are likely never recorded because emergency services are not called, suggesting official statistics may underestimate the true scale of PV related fire events.
Analysis of Swedish data, which provided the most detailed information, identified DC cables and connectors as the most common ignition source, accounting for about 25% of reported fires. Electrical equipment on the AC side and DC switches together represented a further 20% of incidents, while fires originating in solar panels and inverters were less common.
Most fires had limited consequences. Around 68% remained confined to the PV equipment itself, while 24% caused damage to surrounding building surfaces. However, approximately 8% resulted in significant fire spread, including about 3% that led to the complete loss of the building.
The researchers describe this level of risk as significant enough to warrant greater attention, particularly as solar installations become more widespread on buildings with diverse occupancy and fire safety requirements.
The study also found that fire occurrence varies by system size. Small installations below 20 kW experienced the lowest number of incidents per installation, while larger commercial and utility scale systems recorded substantially higher rates. However, when measured against installed generating capacity, the differences between system sizes became much smaller.
The researchers conclude that one of the biggest barriers to improving PV fire safety is the absence of consistent reporting standards across countries.
They recommend introducing a harmonised minimum reporting framework that records whether a PV system caused the fire or was simply affected by it, along with details such as system age, size, ignition point and the extent of damage.
Such a common reporting standard, they argue, would provide policymakers, insurers, installers and regulators with more reliable data to guide fire safety regulations, improve risk management and support the continued expansion of rooftop solar across Europe.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal






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