David Adewuyi: Are solar panels safe for my building rooftop – What you must know

For the last two decades in Nigeria, there have been massive adoption of solar power systems as an alternative power source to the age long unstable power supply, high electricity bills and also as a profitable alternative to fossil fuel generating plant.

Generally, those that make the switch to this innovative solution have their solar panels installed on their roof tops in other to harvest adequate sunshine which is the source of energy that is DC (Direct Current). The direct current is then converted into AC (Alternating Current) used in powering their homes or business places.

In recent times, there have been videos circulating the internet showing houses on fire with captions such as, “solar panels burnt down the house”, “stop putting solar panels on your roofs” and so on. This has created panic in the solar sector and has become a cause of concern from some existing and intending solar users to use their roofs.

What is a solar panels?

A solar panel also known as photovoltaic (PV) panel is a major component of a solar system that converts photons from the sunlight into electrical direct current(DC) which is then used to power a house through an inverter or without an inverter if the appliances in use are DC appliances.

Solar panels are majorly made up of silicon solar cells, glass covering ,encapsulant, aluminum frame and junction box with extending short MC4 cables. So, can solar panels cause fire on your roof? Let’s find out in this article.

Why solar panels are installed on the roof?

As I earlier stated in the introduction, the primary reason for having solar panels on the rooftop is for better harvesting of sunlight and to avoid shadows as much as possible. This is why it has always been the general spot where residential and some commercial solar panels are installed.

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