Regulations for safer PV panel installations
The early involvement of insurance companies is essential for the development and financing of technologies that facilitate the energy transition.
Clear regulations offer better risk control, ensuring that these technologies are as safe, strong, and resilient as possible.
Article by the Risk Consulting team: Delphine Peyron, Albert Paris, Justino de Paz, Fernando Santos
The transition to a more sustainable world is progressing by leaps and bounds. The European Union hopes to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050 through the European Green Deal. The plan is an ambitious package of proposals to adapt EU policies on climate, energy, transport and taxation. The aim? To reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
Renewable energy plays (and will play) a key role in achieving this goal. According to Eurostat, renewable energy sources will account for 41.2% of gross electricity consumption in the EU in 2022. While wind and hydro account for the largest share of total electricity, it is solar energy that is showing the fastest growth. Its costs have fallen by 82% between 2010 and 2020, making it the most competitive source in most EU countries.
Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy, whether in residential, industrial or commercial applications, is based on capturing energy from the sun's rays. By installing photovoltaic (PV) panels, light energy is converted by the photoelectric effect.
These installations bring new uncertainties and risks that need to be addressed. In view of the roadmap proposed by the EU, it is necessary to address the risk of increased fires due to the siting of these installations.
Jens Steemann Kristensen, Research Consultant at the Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology, has worked on a PhD thesis on this issue1. Together with a group of international researchers, he has concluded that a total of 29 fires (both small and large) occur per gigawatt of capacity. While 67% of the fires relate to components in the solar panels, 33% relate to external ignition sources.
The UK newspaper The Independent2 also found out that during 2022 in the UK there were six times the number of fires involving solar panels compared with 10 years ago.
To mitigate and reduce these fire risks, the industry needs standardisation of processes and requirements required by insurance companies. Standards that specify the factors to be considered in the design, installation and maintenance of PV panels, covering both system performance and risk control.
The existence of such clear rules is vital to the development of the technology, helping to avoid or minimise operational disruption and material damage to installations. Their purpose is to ensure that they are as safe, strong and resilient as possible.
The following information extracted from our RSA’s Panel Risk Control Guide can be used to minimise the risk of fire in photovoltaic systems.
Location of the installation and associated equipment
- Work with experienced companies in the sector and with references. Good practice in this type of installation is essential to reduce the risk of fire.
- Carry out a load study including both wind and maintenance overload, especially in the case of roof mounting.
- Prioritise the placement of PV panels on the ground, ceilings in surface car parks or similar, respecting the safety distance between them to facilitate access for firefighters.
- Provide safe access to the deck for operators and firefighters.
- Place the inverters in areas that are easily accessible from the outside (never installed in false ceilings or roofs). The room where they are located must have fire detection.
- Install a switch that allows manual de-energisation of the installation.
Equipment and materials
- Use leading brands of recognised prestige in the market.
- The installation must have remote load monitoring and alarm management, both in panels and inverters.
- The use of UV-resistant, water-resistant, and flame-retardant cable (A-C1 rated) is recommended, to be mounted in a trough or tray to prevent direct exposure to the sun.
- Use only one type of electrical connector for the entire installation.
Fire prevention and protection
- Contact specialised suppliers to evaluate existing solutions (paints, mortars, etc.).
- Install thermal cable on the back of panels and main cable trays or install thermal chambers.
- Install powder extinguishers, water-foam extinguishers, or water lances (the latter two only if the installation is de-energised)
Commissioning and maintenance
- Conduct a third-party luminescence study and verification of I-V curves.
- Provide CCTV remote monitoring of at least the access points.
- Contract a maintenance service by a qualified company with the capacity to cover all aspects of the system, preferably the installer himself.
- Carry out annual thermographs of inverters, panels and their connections, switchboards and transformer, as well as an initial thermography on completion of the work
A proper analysis of all these risks, a safe design, the implementation of fire protection measures and the establishment of clear regulations will undoubtedly improve the quality, safety and performance of the installations throughout their useful life. It also makes it possible to design insurance cover that encourages the development of new technologies and the implementation of sustainable and environmentally friendly systems.
References