December 6, 2024, 2:43 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Do solar installations really pose an increased fire risk? This question has been discussed and researched by scientists for years. A study from the Netherlands has now provided new results. However, it is not the only one in this field.
The assumption that PV systems pose an increased fire risk for buildings sometimes leads to major discussions. However, scientists are also conducting studies in this area and providing important insights into the links between a house fire and a solar energy system.
Current Study on the Risk of Fire from Solar Power
A recent research report from the Netherlands deals with the potential fire risk posed by solar energy systems. The Institute for Public Safety (NIPV), the National Standards Institute (NEN,) and the Organization for Applied Science (TNO) were involved. The results show that the number of fires caused by solar installations is increasing.
Between 2022 and 2023, there were around 10,000 house fires in the Netherlands. 152 buildings were equipped with solar panels – around 1.5 percent. Particularly striking was a significant increase in fires in houses with photovoltaic systems during this period.
Of the 152 buildings affected, however, the researchers only examined the causes of 70 fires in more detail. In 31 of these cases, the fire was directly attributable to the solar system. According to the research team, this is the first study in the Netherlands to specifically examine the risk of PV systems for building fires. The aim is to develop improved testing methods based on the findings in order to better control the risk in the future.
Possible Reasons for Increasing Fire Risks
The study emphasizes that a further increase in PV-related fires is to be expected. One of the main reasons is that many solar modules have reached the end of their service life, which increases the risk of technical defects. In addition, the high demand for solar systems is leading to hasty and non-standard installations in some cases.
Further Studies on the Topic
Not only Dutch but also German researchers have been investigating the fire risk of solar systems – and have been doing so since 2011. The Fraunhofer Institute and TÜV Rheinland spent almost four years investigating the fire risks of photovoltaic systems. The result: 210 cases of fires caused by PV systems were identified during the investigation period. In 130 cases, the damage was limited to the system; in around 80 cases, the building was affected.
According to the experts, this is a very small proportion of the more than 1.5 million PV systems in operation. However, they also expect an increase in the number of cases due to the increasing aging of materials and possible technical faults. This would also be in line with the results of the current study from the Netherlands.
Florian Reil from TÜV Rheinland and the study project manager summarized the results as follows: “Fire risks in solar systems are low, but they can easily be reduced even further.” It was also important to Hermann Laukamp from the Fraunhofer Institute to “objectify the sometimes emotional reporting on the subject of PV fire safety.” This has been successful, “and the intensive educational work has also dispelled many prejudices within the fire departments.”
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Check the Solar System Regularly
In order to minimize the risk of fire in the solar system, owners should check it regularly. The best time for this is spring. This is because the systems usually generate around 80 percent of their annual yield between March and September. Over the winter months, dirt may also have accumulated on the solar panels, which impairs performance. Therefore, in addition to maintenance, regular cleaning of solar systems is also important.