Solar Panel Safety: Liability Risks of Aging Solar Systems

Solar systems are sold as low-maintenance assets, and for the first several years they usually are. But as a system ages, its safety risks grow, whether it is producing power, sitting idle, or abandoned on a roof.

An aging system that isn't inspected and maintained can turn into a liability. The exposure isn't only lost revenue. It includes fire risk, injury claims, environmental cleanup, and damage to your reputation.

Here are the hazards that show up as solar systems age, who is responsible when something goes wrong, and how owners can manage the risk.

Do Safety Risks Go Away When a Solar System Stops Producing?

No. A solar system that is idle, underperforming, or disconnected from the grid can still be dangerous, because panels generate voltage whenever light hits them and degraded components keep deteriorating. Many property owners assume an inactive system is a safe one, and that assumption is where problems start.

Without regular inspection, wiring corrodes, connectors loosen, and mounting hardware weakens. Nobody notices until something fails.

An idle system also tends to fall off everyone's radar. When nobody knows who is responsible for the system anymore, nobody is checking it either.

What Are the Most Common Safety Hazards in Aging Solar Systems?

The main hazards in aging solar systems are electrical faults, fire and structural damage, and hazardous materials from damaged or improperly handled panels. Each gets worse with time and neglect.

Electrical Hazards

Panels produce DC voltage in daylight even when the system is disconnected from the grid. As components degrade, the risks include:

• ●Electrical fires. Overheating from corroded wiring, loose connections, or failing components.
• ●Short circuits. Damaged cables or connectors creating unintended current paths.
• ●Arc faults. Degraded connections that arc and generate intense heat.
• ●Electric shock. A danger for maintenance crews, roofers, and trespassers on poorly secured sites.

Without monitoring, these failures can happen with no warning.

Fire and Structural Damage

A rooftop fire affects more than the panels. Heat can damage the roof itself, along with the racking and mounting systems that hold the array in place.

Metal racking can warp in a fire and lose its ability to secure the panels. That can lead to falling equipment, further building damage, and in severe cases, risk to people inside.

Hazardous Materials

Some solar panels contain metals such as lead and cadmium, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes are harmful to human health and the environment at high levels. The EPA also says some panels qualify as hazardous waste when they are discarded, even within the same model and manufacturer.

That makes damaged panels and end-of-life handling a real compliance issue. Much of today's equipment was never designed with disposal in mind.

Who Is Liable When an Aging Solar System Causes Harm?

The system owner is generally responsible for its safety, so injuries, property damage, or environmental harm from a neglected installation can come back to the owner. That can be true even if the original installer or developer is long gone.

Potential consequences include:

• ●Lawsuits. Claims from injured employees, tenants, customers, or members of the public.
• ●Fines. Penalties for violating safety or environmental rules.
• ●Insurance problems. Claims that are disputed or denied when an insurer points to neglected maintenance.
• ●Reputational damage. Especially for businesses whose customers can see the incident.

Ignoring maintenance also has a direct cost. Repairs get bigger, downtime gets longer, and a fixable system can end up needing full decommissioning.

What Does a Real Rooftop Solar Fire Look Like?

On March 23, 2025, a fire broke out on the roof of the Miramar shopping center in Fuengirola, Spain. According to The Olive Press, the fire started in the solar panels on the top floor and forced the evacuation of all customers and staff.

Firefighters brought it under control quickly and no injuries were reported. But the images of flames spreading across the roof were a clear reminder that solar systems are not "set and forget."

A solar array on your roof is electrical equipment on your roof. It needs to be treated that way for its whole life.

How Can Owners Manage Solar Safety and Liability?

Owners can manage the risk of aging solar systems through regular professional inspections, timely component upgrades, modern safety features like rapid shutdown, and responsible decommissioning when a system is no longer viable.

Regular Inspections and Maintenance

Routine inspections by qualified professionals catch hazards before they turn into incidents. Inspectors should look for:

• ●Wiring and connections. Corrosion, loose terminals, and damaged insulation.
• ●Structural supports. Weakened racking, rusted fasteners, and roof penetrations.
• ●Inverters. Overheating, error codes, and signs of failure.
• ●Site security. Fencing, signage, and access controls, especially on ground-mounted sites.

Rapid Shutdown Upgrades

Rapid shutdown lets a system quickly reduce voltage in rooftop conductors during an emergency, protecting firefighters and workers. The National Electrical Code first required it in 2014 and tightened the requirements in 2017, according to IAEI Magazine.

Many older systems were built before those rules. Adding rapid shutdown is one of the most direct safety upgrades an owner can make.

Worker Safety and Training

Anyone working on an aging system faces higher risk than on a new one. OSHA rules set the baseline, but older sites also call for site-specific training, documented inspections, and proper PPE such as arc-rated gloves and insulated tools.

Crews should take extra care around damaged wiring, deactivated inverters, and large commercial or ground-mounted arrays.

Timely Upgrades and Repowering

Replacing aging inverters, wiring, and damaged panels reduces hazards and restores production at the same time. Repowering an aging PV system addresses safety and performance together instead of one repair at a time.

Responsible Decommissioning

If a system is no longer worth keeping, it should be removed properly. That means safely disconnecting it from the grid, handling any hazardous materials correctly, and disposing of or recycling components in line with environmental rules.

Some states now require it. Pennsylvania, for example, has a solar decommissioning law requiring plans and financial assurance for larger projects.

Start With a Ballpark Estimate

If your system is aging, underperforming, or sitting idle, the safety and liability exposure doesn't go away on its own. Do Good Energy acquires, repowers, and manages aging commercial solar systems, taking that risk off your hands.

Before deciding what to do, find out what your existing solar project may be worth. A system you see as a liability may still have real value to the right owner.

Sources: The Olive Press, "Watch: Moment fire engulfed Miramar shopping centre on Spain's Costa del Sol"; U.S. EPA, "End-of-Life Solar Panels: Regulations and Management"; IAEI Magazine, "NEC Rapid Shutdown Requirements and UL 3741"