In the UK, insurer QBE reported that fire services attended 212 fires involving solar panels in 2025 (up 37% year-on-year and roughly 133% from 2022 levels), with residential properties accounting for 102 of those incidents.

This matches recent reporting (notably a Telegraph article from 9 August 2026) based on QBE’s Freedom of Information requests to UK fire services.

The headline phrasing “more than 200 homes damaged” reflects the overall scale of rooftop incidents, though the detailed figures distinguish 212 total solar-panel-related fires from the 102 that specifically involved homes (alongside incidents at hospitals, schools, retailers, and other sites).

Solar installations rose about 52% between 2022 and 2025 (reaching roughly 1.9–2 million systems), while fires rose faster (around 133% over a comparable period). Earlier QBE FOI data showed a similar pattern for 2022–2024 (fires up ~60% while installations rose ~30%).

Main causes are faulty or poor installation is repeatedly cited, especially substandard cabling, connectors, and fittings.

In 2025 data, DC cabling and connectors were the leading identified cause (49 incidents), followed by the panels themselves (36), battery banks (23), and inverters (19). Fires that spread beyond the solar equipment itself also increased.

Absolute numbers remain low relative to the growing installed base (on the order of roughly 10 fires per 100,000 systems in recent years in comparable data). Most incidents stay confined to the PV equipment, though a minority cause wider damage. High-profile cases (e.g., an Ikea store evacuation and a hospital incident) have drawn attention.

Similar concerns about installation quality, connectors, inverters, and batteries appear in other countries’ data and analyses, though rates vary with reporting methods and installation standards.

Industry and insurer advice consistently emphasizes using certified (e.g., MCS-accredited in the UK) installers, proper components, regular inspections/maintenance, and careful placement (avoiding issues that allow fire spread into the building).

MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) is the UK’s primary quality assurance scheme for small-scale renewable energy technologies, including solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

It sets standards for both products and installers to promote quality, safety, competency, and consumer protection.

MCS certification is not always legally mandatory for installing solar panels, but it is required for customers to access the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), many finance/grant schemes, and is widely expected by insurers, buyers, and warranties.

The main document governing solar PV design and installation is MIS 3002: The Solar PV Installation Standard (also referred to in some contexts alongside related product standards).

Current versions (as of 2026): MIS 3002 Issue 6.0 / MIS 3002:2025 Version 2.0, published 18 March 2026. Compliance became mandatory for certified contractors from 18 June 2026. Earlier versions (e.g., Issue 5.0 from 2023) remain referenced historically.

Applies to MCS-certified contractors undertaking the supply, design, installation, set-to-work, commissioning, and handover of grid-connected solar PV systems on permanent buildings, up to a maximum DC output of 50 kWp. It covers systems normally connected in parallel to the distribution network.

Official documents are freely available for personal use on the MCS website (mcscertified.com), particularly in the Standards & Tools Library. Always check the latest versions, as standards are updated periodically.

In short, the reported rise in incidents is real according to the insurer’s FOI-based figures and is linked primarily to installation and component issues amid rapid deployment, even as the per-system probability stays small.