Government’s plan for ‘plug-in’ solar panels raises fire safety concerns

The current conflict in the Middle East, suggests central Government, is “yet another reminder” that “the only route” to energy security and sovereignty for the UK is to end the dependence on fossil fuel markets and accelerate the drive for clean homegrown power, as well as new renewables and nuclear.   

Indeed, the Government has already taken significant steps in speeding up the move towards clean energy in response to the Middle East scenario. The annual renewables auction, for example, has been brought forward to July. The most recent auction was the biggest one to date and, alongside the previous iteration, means that enough clean energy to power circa 23 million homes has been confirmed.

Now, the Government is driving forward with the aforementioned roll-out of ‘plug-in’ solar panels (ie low-cost panels that families can put on their balconies or outdoor spaces) to be made available in High Street shops and save people money on their energy bills.

Retailers including Lidl and Iceland, alongside manufacturers such as EcoFlow, are working with Government to enable these panels to be brought to the UK market. The Government notes: “The free solar power can be used directly through a mains socket like any other device, without an installation cost, thereby reducing the amount of electricity taken from the grid and cutting energy bills.”

Positive step

Georgina Hall, corporate affairs director at Lidl, noted: “At Lidl GB, we’re committed to making sustainable living affordable for everyone. We welcome the Government’s move to modernise regulations in the UK. Updating the regulatory landscape for this ‘plug-and-play’ technology is a positive step towards empowering British households to manage their energy costs and support the nation’s ‘Net Zero’ ambitions.”

Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK, commented: “Cutting red tape on ‘plug-in’ solar is an encouraging move and we will help to ensure that it works either alongside, or as part of, whole-home solutions that genuinely empower people to take control of their energy use and cut bills.”

Chris Hewett, CEO of Solar Energy UK, explained: “Expanding solar energy and battery storage is a rapid and inexpensive solution to the looming energy crisis for cutting bills, for the economy and for our nation’s energy security. From the largest installations through to the smallest domestic systems, every battery and panel counts towards weaning us off the reliance on imported and polluting fossil fuels. That’s why ensuring that new homes and other buildings are constructed with solar and boosting retrofits is so vital and welcome.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated: “The Iran War has once again shown that the drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape from the grip of fossil fuel markets we don’t control. Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase ‘plug-in’ solar solutions in shops, we’re determined to roll-out clean power so that we can give our country energy sovereignty.”

Concern among consultants

The Government’s plans have raised the alarm bell over fire safety. Stuart Patience (director and head of energy solutions at built environment consultancy Hollis) informed Fire Safety Matters: “Buying ‘plug-in’ solar panels from the supermarket sounds like a great idea in principle, but it’s not like picking up a pint of milk or a tin of beans. There will assuredly be savings in energy costs for thousands of people, but we should always be aware of the risks.”

In theory, ‘plug-in’ solar could open solar PV to the masses, notably so renters and flat owners who’ve been locked out of the market to date, but it also has the potential to present a much bigger issue.

“There’s a huge difference between making solar more available and making it safe,” suggested Patience. “Right now, the push for ‘plug-in’ solar feels more like a headline-grabbing story than a fully worked through plan for safe installation and long-term use. The idea is attractive. The details and safety considerations are limited.”

The first critical question to be addressed revolves around who’s fitting these systems. “Solar PV is not a casual ‘plug-and-play’ lifestyle product. It’s an electrical product with serious safety and fire risks attached. If these systems are sold through mainstream retailers without clear requirements around competent installation, inspection and sign-off, the industry could be opening the door to widespread non-compliant electrical work.”

According to Patience, this is where any lack of electrical competency checks becomes a serious concern. “If the Government is encouraging householders to buy systems ‘off-the-shelf’ and plug them in, they don’t have any verification of who has installed or inspected them or whether their existing electrical system can cope with the additional load. These products only weaken competency controls and installation quality, which could well be a recipe for disaster.”

Grid connection requirements

There’s also the unresolved issue of grid connection requirements and planning rules that are already in place. Traditional solar installations are subject to established processes for network connection, technical assessment and, in some cases, planning consent, all of which exist to protect both building safety and grid stability.

“The Government’s announcement ducks the wider building safety issues,” asserted Patience. “These ‘plug-in’ solar panels could introduce combustible materials, new ignition sources and additional loading to balconies and external surfaces. In higher-risk residential buildings, particularly so those already facing cladding or other fire safety remediation issues, this is a major unresolved issue that could cause serious structural and fire safety-related problems.”

Will these systems be lightly regulated or folded into the current framework? “Until that’s made clear,” continued Patience, “there’s a real risk that mass adoption of these technologies could significantly impact the grid capacity and the rules designed to keep installations safe, lawful and fit for purpose.”

Battery storage makes that risk even more worrying. “There’s a possibility that battery storage could be added to this proposal, which changes the conversation immediately. The industry needs to consider how to manage an unextinguishable fire in a high-rise building or residential property, caused by thermal runaway, which is when the lithium battery cell overheats and releases flammable gases that continually burn until they run out or explode. The prospect of solar PV and battery storage being introduced into high-rise flats without a robust competency framework in place should set alarm bells ringing right across the sector.”

The issue is not just about installation, either. It’s also about what happens afterwards. “Solar PV is not something consumers can simply buy, forget about and assume will look after itself. Performance, safety and compliance all depend on proper ongoing maintenance, monitoring and user understanding. If owners are not properly educated on safe operation, routine checks, fault signs, shutdown procedures and when to call in the specialists, small issues have the potential to turn into life-threatening situations.”

As far as Patience is concerned, the worrying factor is that the Government’s announcement “barely touches” on risk, compliance or competency. “It’s being sold as a good news solution to confront energy pressure and rising bills, but it says far too little about the safeguards needed to make it work safely. Without proper competency checks, strong regulations and serious user education on maintenance, installation and safe use, it risks becoming a dangerous shortcut.”

Response from Electrical Safety First

Also responding to the Government’s plans to make ‘plug-in’ solar panels widely available to the public, Luke Osborne (technical director of Electrical Safety First) observed: “Electrical Safety First welcomes the announcement of the Future Homes Standard. However, while we recognise the potential for ‘plug-in’ solar panel systems to make renewable energy more accessible for millions of people, safety must come first. Recent investigations conducted by the charity have highlighted that, at present, ‘plug-in’ solar systems supply power to household circuits in a way currently not permitted by regulations.”

Osborne added: “While the risk remains low, without wiring regulation changes and under certain conditions, ‘plug-in’ solar PV systems connected to standard household sockets can cause overheating or otherwise impair the operation of protective devices such as RCDs.”

Further, Osborne commented: “We are pleased to see the Government intends to address these issues. New safety standards should be introduced rapidly to ensure households can safely enjoy the benefits of ‘plug-in’ solar. We look forward to working with the Government to address these issues in detail.”  

By way of a warning, Osborne concluded: “With the introduction of any new technology comes the risk of substandard versions making their way on to the market through unscrupulous sellers. We continue to call for online marketplaces to be better regulated in order to prevent unsafe products from being made available to households both now and in the future.”