Fires linked to solar panels force Suffolk council to switch them off in 80 schools indefinitely

Date:
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Description:
Suffolk County Council disconnects solar panels at around 80 schools as a precaution, following three recent fires.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Suffolk County Council to disconnect solar panels at 80 schools following three recent fires PV systems installed between 2011 and 2016 believed to be impacted Regular maintenance
of aging solar components is crucial Suffolk County Council has ordered the precautionary shutdown of solar panels at around 80 schools after three separate fires were tied to such installations.

While the solar panels have not been deemed at fault, they were identified as a potential factor in the three instances, the Council said. The decision to shut down solar panels across the 80 schools affects PV systems installed between 2011 and 2016 under a then county-wide scheme, with engineers being deployed across all sites to isolate the systems. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: Precautionary measures Suffolk council stressed the solar installations arent entirely to blame until inspections are carried out, but that precautionary disconnections would be carried out in the meantime.

The most recent incident, which occurred at Sidegate Primary School on June 24, implied the fire might have started near rooftop solar panels that were installed in 2012. You may like The plug-in balcony solar revolution just
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While investigations remain at an early stage, initial discussions with Suffolk Fire and Rescue indicate that the fire may be linked to solar panels installed on the roof of one of the school buildings, the council wrote on June 25 2026.

We cannot take the risk that those incidents were unrelated or coincidental we must act with precaution to eliminate any potential fire risks, Suffolk County Council Executive Director of Children and Young People Sarah-Jane Smedmor wrote, stressing the safety of children, young people and staff
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Engineers deployed to isolate the solar systems expect the temporary disconnections to have been carried out within two weeks while the council continues further investigation work, though a broader timeline and details
of potential reconnections are unclear. Ageing solar infrastructure safety concerns The councils decision reflects a growing concern that early-generation solar installations now use ageing electrical components
that could have faults across connectors, isolators and inverters, with the technology having been developed and modernized drastically in recent years
as solar installations become more democratized and accessible to homeowners and commercial applications.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband plans to increase the UKs solar capacity from 18GW to 85GW by 2035. What to read next Renewable energy overtakes coal as main source of the world's electricity California canal solar projects could generate significant power and save water Tennessee project combines solar energy and cattle ranching to boost farm income

It also underscores the importance of regular inspection and maintenance throughout the lifetime of a PV system, which should be serviced just like a gas boiler to ensure safety and optimal running conditions.

However, the alarming news comes as the UK continues to expand solar deployment under government plans to reduce carbon emissions, with public sector buildings being fitted out with panels and homeowners eligible for cost-reducing grants.

The incidents also happened as the UK entered its second headwave of the season, with predictions of a third on the horizon, raising concerns that these deployments may not be suitable for higher temperatures.

Tony Slade, an energy expert cited by the BBC , stressed that this is not a renewable energy problem, but potentially one of electrical system specification, installation and maintenance.

Earlier reporting by The Times even noted that, despite firefighters responding to a solar panel-related fire every two days in 2024, faults are more likely to be caused by inverters and problematic wiring rather than excess heat on the panels themselves.

Safe solar panel installation and maintenance are essential to reducing
fires, QBE Insurance Risk Engineer Adrian Simmonds then wrote. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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