Experts have issued an urgent warning over solar panels on rooftops, following a terrifying incident in Northamptonshire.
Footage revealed the moment a set of solar panels on a £600,000 new–build home exploded while a family was still inside.
Ring doorbell footage from earlier this week showed the roof of the property in Wellingborough, bursting into flames.
Neighbours described the terror of watching the family scramble to safety at about 10.30am on Bank Holiday Monday, as the temperature had already hit 22°C.
Thankfully, nobody was injured in the explosion after an off–duty firefighter rescued three adults and one child from the four–bedroom detached house. Five fire crews then arrived and worked quickly to control the blaze.
However, the incident raises important questions about the safety of solar panels – particularly as heatwaves become more common.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Luke Osborne, Technical Director at Electrical Safety First, said: ‘It’s essential people make sure they know the person installing their solar panels is competent and capable of doing it to a high standard.
‘As with all new technology, it’s not unusual for rogue traders to exploit households when interest in installing new devices might be at its highest.’
Shocking ring doorbell footage captured the moment solar panels on a £600,000 new–build home’s roof burst into flames
The four–bedroom detached property in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire was destroyed by the blaze
Also known as photovoltaic panels, solar panels convert the sun’s energy into electricity.
And new figures released by the UK government this week show that their popularity is rising in Britain.
Last year was the strongest year on record for solar deployment, with 269,000 installations completed across the UK.
‘Around 255,000 of these were rooftop solar – meaning at least 95% of all new solar was installed on homes, businesses and other buildings,’ it explained.
‘This equates to a new rooftop solar installation every 2 minutes throughout 2025.’
While this shows that many Brits are embracing clean energy, Electrical Safety First has raised concerns about the safety of solar panels, which it describes as an ‘evolving technology’.
The first key issue lies in how solar panel systems run.
‘As there is no switch to turn a solar panel system off, small issues such as leaves under the panels or an electrical fault can turn into big problems,’ it explained.
Off–duty fireman Robert Shipman saw the smoke from his home nearby, went over and alerted the family
Five crews and an aerial appliance from Moulton worked to swiftly put out the blaze
Secondly, most solar panels don’t have built–in fire detection systems.
This means any problems can rapidly escalate – as we recently saw with the fire in Northamptonshire.
Electrical Safety First said: ‘Most solar panels don’t have an automatic fire detection system, so a fire can take hold quickly and spread before it is discovered.
‘The design of some solar panel systems can also make it more difficult to reach a fire with water.’
Earlier this year, the UK government carried out a review to investigate the fire safety implications of solar panels on rooftops.
Worryingly, this flagged several factors that can increase the risk of a fire.
This includes a small ‘gap height’ (the gap between the panel and the roof), roof construction materials, and the configuration and spacing of the panel array.
‘In addition to technical and experimental insights, the review draws attention to practical challenges for emergency responders,’ it added.
‘PV [photovoltaic] systems operating on direct current, introduce persistent electrical hazards even after power disconnection.
Last year was the strongest year on record solar deployment, with 269,000 installations completed across the UK
‘The presence of PV arrays can also obstruct firefighting access to the fire under the PV panel, impair ventilation systems, and if combined with battery storage, pose chemical or explosion hazards.’
Based on the findings, the report’s researchers made four key recommendations.
Firstly, they recommend the use of non–combustible roof coverings beneath the solar panels.
Next, they say there should be fire–resistant construction from the exterior inward to mitigate roof penetration.
In addition, they say there should be guidance provided on the solar panel layout, including minimum gap heights and array segmentation to limit the spread of flame.
Finally, they propose further tests that accurately reflect the modified fire conditions created by solar panels.
So, what does this mean for you?
According to Electrical Safety First, the most important thing for Brits considering solar panels is to choose the right electrician.
Mr Osborne told the Daily Mail: ‘Solar panel fires are generally rare occurrences and households should rest assured that if their installation has been undertaken by a competent professional and inspected and maintained regularly, then their set up should be perfectly safe.
‘However, like any electrical device, solar panels and their systems need to be maintained.
‘Faults can occur more generally from wear and tear over the years, given how exposed panels and their cables are to the elements.
‘Loose connections and a build–up of debris, such as leaves, can all contribute to issues with solar panels later down the line, not only degrading the effectiveness of your system but also creating isolated hot spots and potential fire risk.
‘To protect yourself, always hire an electrician who is registered with a competent person scheme and qualified in solar PV installation, as this work is an additional qualification.
‘Make sure your system is inspected every few years also, to highlight any wear and tear or faults that may have occurred.
‘We recommend anyone with solar panels has them inspected by a competent and registered electrician at least once every five years.’
