New research from global business insurer QBE reveals the rate of solar panel fires is rising faster than the rate of installations, with fires up 133% over four years to the end of 2025, compared to a 52% increase in solar panel installations.

The data collected by QBE from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests made to UK fire services in February 2026 shows that UK fire services attended 212 fires involving solar panels in 2025, more than double the 91 recorded in 2022.

The findings emerge as the UK’s solar panel revolution continues to accelerate. In March 2026, installations surpassed two million for the first time. As of May 2026, there were 2,047,225 solar panel installations across the UK.

Read more: Fires and destroyed homes from ‘green’ solar panels rapidly increasing

Read more: One fire every two days linked to solar panels prompting calls for stricter installation checks