RENEWABLE ENERGY
SAFEGUARDING SOLAR SYSTEMS: A GUIDE FOR UK BUSINESSES
S
olar energy is increasingly being seen as a viable and sustainable alternative to grid
power, resulting in increased uptake. With the potential to benefit businesses large and small, smart energy solutions are cropping up on unused rooftops of manufacturing plants, warehouses, retail outlets, data centres, airports and other transport hubs, and more. Much of the attraction is economic, especially in an environment of rising electricity consumption. However, there is also a strong altruistic motive in installing a solar power system. Lowering a company’s carbon footprint naturally benefits the
environment by cutting down on CO2 emissions and helping to reduce the effects of climate change. Today, a forward-looking corporate environmental program, as part of a broader, robust ESG strategy, has become as essential as a balance sheet, with many leading UK companies promoting their own ambitious zero carbon targets. Accordingly, solar PV (photovoltaic) systems are
now viewed as long-term investments that need to be closely managed and monitored in order to maximise ROI and bottom line savings. As with any serious investment, stakeholders must ensure that the assets they are financing are safe and secure from physical harm. Commercial buildings are high-value assets, and in the event of a fire, property loss and business interruptions can be costly. Of even greater importance is the need to protect the people who work in and visit those buildings, as well as the wider community.
PUTTING SOLAR SAFETY FIRST With millions of systems installed worldwide, solar PV is proven to be a safe, reliable technology that does not inherently pose a risk to people or property. Commercial infrastructure fires can be caused by many things, including electrical malfunctions in heating systems, factory machinery or even lightning. While fires stemming from solar PV systems are rare, it is important to thoroughly evaluate the safety of any existing or planned installations, particularly when selecting or upgrading system components.
There are two safety features in particular to look out for when investing in solar technology – SafeDC and arc fault detection and prevention
As more UK businesses adopt solar energy, safety is coming under increasing scrutiny. Christelle Barnes, UK country manager of
SolarEdge Technologies, explains what businesses need to know to safeguard both their people and property when investing in solar
When a building fire is found to originate from a solar PV system, causes may include installation error or improper maintenance, particularly involving connector wear and tear. These errors may not cause a problem initially, but over time they can potentially lead to electrical faults which, if not caught, can develop into something more serious. Fortunately, advances in solar system technology now enable effective detection and prevention of overheating at the connector level – a topic I’ll return to later in this article. To support safer installations, many technology providers invest in ongoing training. For example, SolarEdge has trained thousands of installation professionals. However, even when installations are carried out flawlessly, external factors beyond anyone’s control, such as an animal chewing through a cable, can introduce faults. It is at this point that component selection becomes key.
SAFETY BEGINS AT THE PANEL LEVEL To mitigate potential solar safety risks, it is important to understand how these systems work. The main
28 ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Spring 2026
components of solar systems are PV panels and inverters. The panels generate electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current (DC). Inverters then convert the DC power to alternating current (AC) used to power homes, buildings and businesses. As long as the sun is shining, solar panels and
cables remain energised with high DC voltages, even if the main circuit breaker is shut off. In the event of a fire, firefighters typically disconnect the grid supply before intervening. They assume there is no risk of electrocution once the grid has been disconnected, allowing the spray of water and creation of holes in the roof so that heat and smoke can dissipate. However, this assumption is not true in the case of a typical PV roof system, as the system is creating its own electricity independent of the grid. Traditional string inverters typically have
limited safety functionality since they do not necessarily reduce the DC voltage when switched off. To meet safety standards, additional hardware may need to be purchased, adding more cost and labour to the installation. Due to this and other limitations, there has been a notable shift away from traditional string inverters in favour of more advanced systems that leverage DC-optimisation. These systems split the functionality of a traditional string inverter and use
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