Batteries
Solar Panels
Hand in hand with industries that have seen rapid growth have been installation practices which are too frequently poor. The perhaps now familiar phenomenon of the ‘solar cowboy’ continues to be a concern.
Since records began in 2008, more than 1.5 million certified (1) small-scale solar photovoltaic, or PV, systems have been installed across the UK.
This is welcome news, but an increasing desire for domestic installation has been further driven in response to an increase in the cost of living. This has not always meant that installations are safe. As with any technology which produces electricity, solar panels can cause fires. In July 2024, the London Fire Brigade reported that there had been 31 fires across the UK capital alone since 2018 (2).
Used batteries are recycled. Do-it-yourself projects range from wiring up a few old car batteries, to charge pumps for a garden pond, to larger-scale projects. An entrepreneurial approach, so long as it is by those who know what they are doing, might be admirable. The danger is the availability of such solutions on line (5). Their inevitable application by others might better be defined as ambitious. It is difficult to lay blame on those who, after all, are not professionals. When fires occur, they may well be identified as fortuitous or accidental.
The domestic context
The drive to move towards zero emissions has produced a rate of innovation which has been rapid. This has brought with it its own dangers. A disconnect persists. There is a gulf between, on the one hand the pace of change, and on the other, the standards applied. Those standards are both in the installation and the maintenance of the infrastructure required for the new technologies.
This is not helped by the fact that self-certification remains the norm. A public perception of quality is all too easy to create. Membership of what are now household names, such as Checkatrade, requires no more than payment of a fee.
Self-certification
Inadequate installation runs risks of fire from faulty wiring, incompatible fixtures and consequential resistive heating, from overheating of connections. The same issues can also result in fire following electrical arcing.
Planning and design issues add to the risk of solar panel fires, causing damage, not just to the PV installation, but the buildings on which they are mounted. PV systems are known to have been installed on combustible roofs, with no fire-resistant covering.
External influences can cause solar panel fires. Moisture and water ingress into parts of the PV system, such as the DC and AC connectors, pose an obvious risk. The build-up of dirt, bird droppings, and foliage on PV panels can all lead to shading, causing hot spots which escalate to burning. But it is far from clear that sufficient, if any, consideration is given to these matters.
None of this is helped by the fact that home owners often have no real knowledge of what it is that has been installed. This is acutely so in the context of long-term ‘rent-a-roof’ arrangements arising from the now defunct government incentivised Feed In Tarriff scheme. This has seen properties change hands within the life of contracts between homeowners and owners of the equipment.
A significant proportion of fires arise in older-generation solar panels installed under that scheme (3). The demise of the scheme will mean that these older installations will in due course be phased out. For the time being, many remain in place.
It is an industry section arguably in need of much tighter regulation.
On 31 July 2024 the UK government announced a budget of over £1.5 billion to deliver ‘homegrown clean energy’(18). A substantial part of this involves financial incentives which have created a dash for subsidies.
Unsurprisingly, the priority has been to make things fast but not necessarily right. As a result, there continues to be no track record to rely on. There are very few big names to look to for comfort.
Emerging designers & suppliers
At the outset of 2025 it remains clear that the analysis by insurers of risks arising from emerging green technologies will be, for the time being, something to keep under review.
A pervasive concern arising from the issues discussed above is a lack of data which permits reliable analysis of risk for insurers. The emerging technologies are just that. And with novelty comes a lack of expertise and much needed regulation. All of this will continue to make these areas of inevitably heightened risk.
A further concern will continue to be that of the potential for underinsurance. Asset owners need to take care to ensure the regular maintenance and inspection of specialist new technologies. They should similarly be making sure they have properly assessed the financial impact of damage. Whether that is always given sufficient priority by businesses is something for insurers to be focused on. Asset reinstatement values are increasing, resulting in underinsurance continuing to be one of the major risks that is facing the industry.
A space to watch
Explore our Eco-Properties tool here
As climate change accelerates, its effects on properties are becoming more pronounced. Rising temperatures are shifting heating and cooling demands, while flooding and subsidence risks are increasing, particularly in vulnerable areas. Commercial properties are also adapting to the push for sustainability, raising concerns over asset values.
To better understand these evolving challenges, we have created our Eco Properties tool, to greater understand the risks of these new technologies.
Government subsidies continue to incentivise contracts (10). However, cut off dates will mean a rush of competitive bidding. In some cases, this may mean a selection of contractors which prioritises availability over quality.
Wind Farms
The UK government has pledged to treble the UK's capacity to generate solar power over the next five years (6). But the fact that this might not be termed as new technology has not meant that the risk of fire has been eliminated.
Whilst solar farms are built better than domestic solar panels, it is the standards applied to their maintenance which remains the concern.
Solar Farms
The commercial sector
Battery Farms
Concerns over the potential for batteries to cause fires are not limited to the domestic context.
A drive to look to battery farms as an alternative source of power has been met with real concerns that the dangers may outweigh the benefits (13).
The ever-changing landscape
The drive to move towards zero emissions has produced a rate of innovation which has been rapid. This has brought with it its own dangers. A disconnect persists. There is a gulf between, on the one hand the pace of change, and on the other, the standards applied. Those standards are both in the installation and the maintenance of the infrastructure required for the new technologies.
This is not helped by the fact that self-certification remains the norm. A public perception of quality is all too easy to create. Membership of what are now household names, such as Checkatrade, requires no more than payment of a fee.
Self-certification
On 31 July 2024 the UK government announced a budget of over £1.5 billion to deliver ‘homegrown clean energy’. A substantial part of this involves financial incentives which have created a dash for subsidies.
Unsurprisingly, the priority has been to make things fast but not necessarily right. As a result, there continues to be no track record to rely on. There are very few big names to look to for comfort.
Emerging designers & suppliers
At the outset of 2025 it remains clear that the analysis by insurers of risks arising from emerging green technologies will be, for the time being, something to keep under review.
A pervasive concern arising from the issues discussed above is a lack of data which permits reliable analysis of risk for insurers. The emerging technologies are just that. And with novelty comes a lack of expertise and much needed regulation. All of this will continue to make these areas of inevitably heightened risk.
A further concern will continue to be that of the potential for underinsurance. Asset owners need to take care to ensure the regular maintenance and inspection of specialist new technologies. They should similarly be making sure they have properly assessed the financial impact of damage. Whether that is always given sufficient priority by businesses is something for insurers to be focused on. Asset reinstatement values are increasing, resulting in underinsurance continuing to be one of the major risks that is facing the industry.
A space to watch
The drive to move towards zero emissions has produced a rate of innovation which has been rapid. This has brought with it its own dangers. A disconnect persists. There is a gulf between, on the one hand the pace of change, and on the other, the standards applied. Those standards are both in the installation and the maintenance of the infrastructure required for the new technologies.
This is not helped by the fact that self-certification remains the norm. A public perception of quality is all too easy to create. Membership of what are now household names, such as Checkatrade, requires no more than payment of a fee.
Self-certification
On 31 July 2024 the UK government announced a budget of over £1.5 billion to deliver ‘homegrown clean energy’. A substantial part of this involves financial incentives which have created a dash for subsidies.
Unsurprisingly, the priority has been to make things fast but not necessarily right. As a result, there continues to be no track record to rely on. There are very few big names to look to for comfort.
Emerging designers & suppliers
At the outset of 2025 it remains clear that the analysis by insurers of risks arising from emerging green technologies will be, for the time being, something to keep under review.
A pervasive concern arising from the issues discussed above is a lack of data which permits reliable analysis of risk for insurers. The emerging technologies are just that. And with novelty comes a lack of expertise and much needed regulation. All of this will continue to make these areas of inevitably heightened risk.
A further concern will continue to be that of the potential for underinsurance. Asset owners need to take care to ensure the regular maintenance and inspection of specialist new technologies. They should similarly be making sure they have properly assessed the financial impact of damage. Whether that is always given sufficient priority by businesses is something for insurers to be focused on. Asset reinstatement values are increasing, resulting in underinsurance continuing to be one of the major risks that is facing the industry.
A space to watch
Solutions may for a time be hailed as the next best thing, only for the reality to be less encouraging.
Heat pumps have in the past been promoted as a key part of the transition to cleaner heating. Government incentives are designed to address the cost of installations. But in addition to the upfront costs, concerns about electricity prices compared to gas, as well as the need for home modifications to optimise their efficiency, all have led to lack of uptake in widespread adoption. The government has been warned that heat pumps remain too expensive (14).
It is to be assumed that setbacks in one area will continue to mean innovations in others.
A ban beyond 2035 on the sale of gas boilers has now been scrapped (15). But minimum standards for energy efficiency in newly built properties under the rules will preclude the installation of gas boilers.
Whether hydrogen is the answer remains to be seen. The idea is that hydrogen is produced by green sources and does not emit carbon dioxide. But given the example of heat pumps it is difficult to see what emerging technologies are in fact around the corner.
Miniature wind turbines, once thought to be a darling technology, do not, it transpires, and in all reality, produce any useful level of output (16).
New technologies, coupled with the hasty implementation of supporting installations, are likely to persist. However, this doesn’t guarantee that emerging businesses will always have the necessary expertise. It is encouraging that some do seem to (17), but better regulation is still needed.
The drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is far from new. Nor is the fact that it has brought with it innovations in identifying renewable energy sources.
Insurers are seeing higher payouts due to weather-related damage, with claims surging. In a positive step, homeowners and businesses are investing in greener properties. But this shift brings the new risk of accidents involving modern green appliances.
The inevitable rush to implement new technology has therefore not been without risk, not least of damage to property. Periodic review of the key concerns is vital. The following takes a fresh look at some of those concerns.
Solutions may for a time be hailed as the next best thing, only for the reality to be less encouraging.
Heat pumps have in the past been promoted as a key part of the transition to cleaner heating. Government incentives are designed to address the cost of installations. But in addition to the upfront costs, concerns about electricity prices compared to gas, as well as the need for home modifications to optimise their efficiency, all have led to lack of uptake in widespread adoption. The government has been warned that heat pumps remain too expensive (14).
It is to be assumed that setbacks in one area will continue to mean innovations in others.
A ban beyond 2035 on the sale of gas boilers has now been scrapped (15). But minimum standards for energy efficiency in newly built properties under the rules will preclude the installation of gas boilers.
Whether hydrogen is the answer remains to be seen. The idea is that hydrogen is produced by green sources and does not emit carbon dioxide. But given the example of heat pumps it is difficult to see what emerging technologies are in fact around the corner.
Miniature wind turbines, once thought to be a darling technology, do not, it transpires, and in all reality, produce any useful level of output (16).
New technologies, coupled with the hasty implementation of supporting installations, are likely to persist. However, this doesn’t guarantee that emerging businesses will always have the necessary expertise. It is encouraging that some do seem to (17), but better regulation is still needed.
Solutions may for a time be hailed as the next best thing, only for the reality to be less encouraging.
Heat pumps have in the past been promoted as a key part of the transition to cleaner heating. Government incentives are designed to address the cost of installations. But in addition to the upfront costs, concerns about electricity prices compared to gas, as well as the need for home modifications to optimise their efficiency, all have led to lack of uptake in widespread adoption. The government has been warned that heat pumps remain too expensive (14).
It is to be assumed that setbacks in one area will continue to mean innovations in others.
A ban beyond 2035 on the sale of gas boilers has now been scrapped (15). But minimum standards for energy efficiency in newly built properties under the rules will preclude the installation of gas boilers.
Whether hydrogen is the answer remains to be seen. The idea is that hydrogen is produced by green sources and does not emit carbon dioxide. But given the example of heat pumps it is difficult to see what emerging technologies are in fact around the corner.
Miniature wind turbines, once thought to be a darling technology, do not, it transpires, and in all reality, produce any useful level of output (16).
New technologies, coupled with the hasty implementation of supporting installations, are likely to persist. However, this doesn’t guarantee that emerging businesses will always have the necessary expertise. It is encouraging that some do seem to (17), but better regulation is still needed.
The ever-changing landscape
The ever-changing landscape
Lithium-ion batteries can cause fires for a number of reasons. That fact, as well as the measures (4) which can reduce the risks, is perhaps not fully appreciated by the general public. This has not stopped risky applications, given what is an understandable desire to save money.
There has been a push for solar panels to be backed up by batteries. That itself brings with it the prospect of aggravation of a fire which has already broken out elsewhere.
A concern first recognised in 2017 (7) was that may solar farm incidents are not event reported, as O&M companies tend to deal with issues as they arise, particularly where, perhaps only by good fortune, there is no injury to buildings or people. What is clear, however, is that fires have continued to occur in 2024 (8).
Compromise in the quality of maintenance has come about in the context of the financing of solar farms, coupled with short term commercial views. Farms are owned by special project vehicles. Responsibility for their maintenance is subcontracted to companies which are not required to adhere to standards which in other sectors would be described as best practice. Instead the accepted norm is common practice. The reality is that this is driven by economic concerns and not a proper analysis of risk. A reality is likely to be a perception that losses caused by fire will be covered by insurers. Conversely, funding quality maintenance impacts on the bottom line.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) stockpile energy from renewable sources such as wind turbines and solar farms which is not needed immediately. That energy is stored inside lithium-ion batteries. Whilst fires may be rare, they are a real danger. They are also difficult to put out (11).
The UK’s National Grid is required to manage fluctuations in supply with demand. This is challenging (12) when the target is to achieve net zero carbon production. As more power comes from wind and solar, the need for BESS grows.
Information about the best practices which have developed in established sectors is easily available. However, the absence of their application by solar farm maintenance companies has been apparent in the course of forensic investigations. The question is how to improve on this reactive approach in a market driven by minimal cost contracts. Most of the time installations in solar farms do not cause fires. Needless to say, the fact remains that, when they do, the impact can be very significant (9).
The drive to move towards zero emissions has produced a rate of innovation which has been rapid. This has brought with it its own dangers. A disconnect persists. There is a gulf between, on the one hand the pace of change, and on the other, the standards applied. Those standards are both in the installation and the maintenance of the infrastructure required for the new technologies.
This is not helped by the fact that self-certification remains the norm. A public perception of quality is all too easy to create. Membership of what are now household names, such as Checkatrade, requires no more than payment of a fee.
Self-certification
On 31 July 2024 the UK government announced a budget of over £1.5 billion to deliver ‘homegrown clean energy’(18). A substantial part of this involves financial incentives which have created a dash for subsidies.
Unsurprisingly, the priority has been to make things fast but not necessarily right. As a result, there continues to be no track record to rely on. There are very few big names to look to for comfort.
Emerging designers & suppliers
At the outset of 2025 it remains clear that the analysis by insurers of risks arising from emerging green technologies will be, for the time being, something to keep under review.
A pervasive concern arising from the issues discussed above is a lack of data which permits reliable analysis of risk for insurers. The emerging technologies are just that. And with novelty comes a lack of expertise and much needed regulation. All of this will continue to make these areas of inevitably heightened risk.
A further concern will continue to be that of the potential for underinsurance. Asset owners need to take care to ensure the regular maintenance and inspection of specialist new technologies. They should similarly be making sure they have properly assessed the financial impact of damage. Whether that is always given sufficient priority by businesses is something for insurers to be focused on. Asset reinstatement values are increasing, resulting in underinsurance continuing to be one of the major risks that is facing the industry.
A space to watch
Solutions may for a time be hailed as the next best thing, only for the reality to be less encouraging.
Heat pumps have in the past been promoted as a key part of the transition to cleaner heating. Government incentives are designed to address the cost of installations. But in addition to the upfront costs, concerns about electricity prices compared to gas, as well as the need for home modifications to optimise their efficiency, all have led to lack of uptake in widespread adoption. The government has been warned that heat pumps remain too expensive (14).
It is to be assumed that setbacks in one area will continue to mean innovations in others.
A ban beyond 2035 on the sale of gas boilers has now been scrapped (15). But minimum standards for energy efficiency in newly built properties under the rules will preclude the installation of gas boilers.
Whether hydrogen is the answer remains to be seen. The idea is that hydrogen is produced by green sources and does not emit carbon dioxide. But given the example of heat pumps it is difficult to see what emerging technologies are in fact around the corner.
Miniature wind turbines, once thought to be a darling technology, do not, it transpires, and in all reality, produce any useful level of output (16).
New technologies, coupled with the hasty implementation of supporting installations, are likely to persist. However, this doesn’t guarantee that emerging businesses will always have the necessary expertise. It is encouraging that some do seem to (17), but better regulation is still needed.
The ever-changing landscape
The drive to move towards zero emissions has produced a rate of innovation which has been rapid. This has brought with it its own dangers. A disconnect persists. There is a gulf between, on the one hand the pace of change, and on the other, the standards applied. Those standards are both in the installation and the maintenance of the infrastructure required for the new technologies.
This is not helped by the fact that self-certification remains the norm. A public perception of quality is all too easy to create. Membership of what are now household names, such as Checkatrade, requires no more than payment of a fee.
Self-certification
On 31 July 2024 the UK government announced a budget of over £1.5 billion to deliver ‘homegrown clean energy’. A substantial part of this involves financial incentives which have created a dash for subsidies.
Unsurprisingly, the priority has been to make things fast but not necessarily right. As a result, there continues to be no track record to rely on. There are very few big names to look to for comfort.
Emerging designers & suppliers
At the outset of 2025 it remains clear that the analysis by insurers of risks arising from emerging green technologies will be, for the time being, something to keep under review.
A pervasive concern arising from the issues discussed above is a lack of data which permits reliable analysis of risk for insurers. The emerging technologies are just that. And with novelty comes a lack of expertise and much needed regulation. All of this will continue to make these areas of inevitably heightened risk.
A further concern will continue to be that of the potential for underinsurance. Asset owners need to take care to ensure the regular maintenance and inspection of specialist new technologies. They should similarly be making sure they have properly assessed the financial impact of damage. Whether that is always given sufficient priority by businesses is something for insurers to be focused on. Asset reinstatement values are increasing, resulting in underinsurance continuing to be one of the major risks that is facing the industry.
A space to watch
Solutions may for a time be hailed as the next best thing, only for the reality to be less encouraging.
Heat pumps have in the past been promoted as a key part of the transition to cleaner heating. Government incentives are designed to address the cost of installations. But in addition to the upfront costs, concerns about electricity prices compared to gas, as well as the need for home modifications to optimise their efficiency, all have led to lack of uptake in widespread adoption. The government has been warned that heat pumps remain too expensive (14).
It is to be assumed that setbacks in one area will continue to mean innovations in others.
A ban beyond 2035 on the sale of gas boilers has now been scrapped (15). But minimum standards for energy efficiency in newly built properties under the rules will preclude the installation of gas boilers.
Whether hydrogen is the answer remains to be seen. The idea is that hydrogen is produced by green sources and does not emit carbon dioxide. But given the example of heat pumps it is difficult to see what emerging technologies are in fact around the corner.
Miniature wind turbines, once thought to be a darling technology, do not, it transpires, and in all reality, produce any useful level of output (16).
New technologies, coupled with the hasty implementation of supporting installations, are likely to persist. However, this doesn’t guarantee that emerging businesses will always have the necessary expertise. It is encouraging that some do seem to (17), but better regulation is still needed.
The ever-changing landscape
The drive to move towards zero emissions has produced a rate of innovation which has been rapid. This has brought with it its own dangers. A disconnect persists. There is a gulf between, on the one hand the pace of change, and on the other, the standards applied. Those standards are both in the installation and the maintenance of the infrastructure required for the new technologies.
This is not helped by the fact that self-certification remains the norm. A public perception of quality is all too easy to create. Membership of what are now household names, such as Checkatrade, requires no more than payment of a fee.
Self-certification
On 31 July 2024 the UK government announced a budget of over £1.5 billion to deliver ‘homegrown clean energy’. A substantial part of this involves financial incentives which have created a dash for subsidies.
Unsurprisingly, the priority has been to make things fast but not necessarily right. As a result, there continues to be no track record to rely on. There are very few big names to look to for comfort.
Emerging designers & suppliers
At the outset of 2025 it remains clear that the analysis by insurers of risks arising from emerging green technologies will be, for the time being, something to keep under review.
A pervasive concern arising from the issues discussed above is a lack of data which permits reliable analysis of risk for insurers. The emerging technologies are just that. And with novelty comes a lack of expertise and much needed regulation. All of this will continue to make these areas of inevitably heightened risk.
A further concern will continue to be that of the potential for underinsurance. Asset owners need to take care to ensure the regular maintenance and inspection of specialist new technologies. They should similarly be making sure they have properly assessed the financial impact of damage. Whether that is always given sufficient priority by businesses is something for insurers to be focused on. Asset reinstatement values are increasing, resulting in underinsurance continuing to be one of the major risks that is facing the industry.
A space to watch
Solutions may for a time be hailed as the next best thing, only for the reality to be less encouraging.
Heat pumps have in the past been promoted as a key part of the transition to cleaner heating. Government incentives are designed to address the cost of installations. But in addition to the upfront costs, concerns about electricity prices compared to gas, as well as the need for home modifications to optimise their efficiency, all have led to lack of uptake in widespread adoption. The government has been warned that heat pumps remain too expensive (14).
It is to be assumed that setbacks in one area will continue to mean innovations in others.
A ban beyond 2035 on the sale of gas boilers has now been scrapped (15). But minimum standards for energy efficiency in newly built properties under the rules will preclude the installation of gas boilers.
Whether hydrogen is the answer remains to be seen. The idea is that hydrogen is produced by green sources and does not emit carbon dioxide. But given the example of heat pumps it is difficult to see what emerging technologies are in fact around the corner.
Miniature wind turbines, once thought to be a darling technology, do not, it transpires, and in all reality, produce any useful level of output (16).
New technologies, coupled with the hasty implementation of supporting installations, are likely to persist. However, this doesn’t guarantee that emerging businesses will always have the necessary expertise. It is encouraging that some do seem to (17), but better regulation is still needed.
The ever-changing landscape
Concerns over the potential for batteries to cause fires are not limited to the domestic context.
A drive to look to battery farms as an alternative source of power has been met with real concerns that the dangers may outweigh the benefits (13).
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) stockpile energy from renewable sources such as wind turbines and solar farms which is not needed immediately. That energy is stored inside lithium-ion batteries. Whilst fires may be rare, they are a real danger. They are also difficult to put out (11).
The UK’s National Grid is required to manage fluctuations in supply with demand. This is challenging (12) when the target is to achieve net zero carbon production. As more power comes from wind and solar, the need for BESS grows.
Battery Farms
Government subsidies continue to incentivise contracts (10). However, cut off dates will mean a rush of competitive bidding. In some cases this may mean a selection of contractors which prioritises availability over quality.
Wind Farms
The UK government has pledged to treble the UK's capacity to generate solar power over the next five years (6). But the fact that this might not be termed as new technology has not meant that the risk of fire has been eliminated.
Whilst solar farms are built better than domestic solar panels, it is the standards applied to their maintenance which remains the concern.
Information about the best practices which have developed in established sectors is easily available. However, the absence of their application by solar farm maintenance companies has been apparent in the course of forensic investigations. The question is how to improve on this reactive approach in a market driven by minimal costs contracts. Most of the time installations in solar farms do not cause fires. Needless to say, the fact remains that, when they do, the impact can be very significant (9).
A concern first recognised in 2017 (7) was that may solar farm incidents are not event reported, as O&M companies tend to deal with issues as they arise, particularly where, perhaps only by good fortune, there is no injury to buildings or people. What is clear, however, is that fires have continued to occur in 2024 (8).
Compromise in the quality of maintenance has come about in the context of the financing of solar farms, coupled with short term commercial views. Farms are owned by special project vehicles. Responsibility for their maintenance is subcontracted to companies which are not required to adhere to standards which in other sectors would be described as best practice. Instead the accepted norm is common practice. The reality is that this is driven by economic concerns and not a proper analysis of risk. A reality is likely to be a perception that losses caused by fire will be covered by insurers. Conversely, funding quality maintenance impacts on the bottom line.
Solar Farms
The commercial sector
Explore our Eco-Properties tool here
As climate change accelerates, its effects on properties are becoming more pronounced. Rising temperatures are shifting heating and cooling demands, while flooding and subsidence risks are increasing, particularly in vulnerable areas. Commercial properties are also adapting to the push for sustainability, raising concerns over asset values.
To better understand these evolving challenges, we have created our Eco Properties tool, to greater understand the risks of these new technologies.