Czech photovoltaic fires are on the rise, chamber blames unqualified installations

Fires at photovoltaic power plants in Czechia have risen sharply in recent months. From January to the end of July this year, the Fire Rescue Service recorded 45 fires involving these systems. In previous years, there were around 15 a year. According to the engineering chamber, the most common causes are unqualified photovoltaic installations and insufficient attention to safety. The Czech Chamber of Chartered Engineers and Technicians Active in Construction (ČKAIT) announced the figures today.

Czechia has experienced a photovoltaic boom in recent months. In the first half of this year, energy companies commissioned 45.197 photovoltaic power plants. The number of installations is almost a quarter higher than for the whole of last year.

However, the chamber says the boom has also brought an increase in power plants built without the necessary expertise on the part of the installer or the documentation provider. In response, ČKAIT urged builders not to underestimate project preparation or the involvement of authorised professionals in the preparation, construction and operation of solar systems.