In the beginning of July, the fire ignited in the rooftop PV system located at HalfMoon Industrial Park, Wilton, unexpectedly. Giving utmost priority to the call, the firefighters responded quickly and upon their arrival, observed thick black smoke rising from a row of upstream solar panels with flames licking them. The fire got contained within 45 minutes, but by that time, both the rooftop system and part of the building sustained adverse damages, alarming the local factory workers and residents.
According to the Fire Chief Kevin Shimeric, the fire started in the area of solar panels; however, investigations to find definite cause are still underway. As solar panels keep generating power when exposed to sunlight, shutting down power called for help from the factory technicians, thus delaying the emergency response. Luckily, the fire did not shoot inside; otherwise, the consequences could have been disastrous.
Hidden Perils of Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems
In the fast boom of rooftop photovoltaic installations, more safety issues come to light. Fires may be set off by myriad causes: some may be due to aging of components, some due to the inverter overheating, or loose wiring, and sometimes perhaps from a system that is poorly isolated. Lack of proper coordination between photovoltaic and energy storage systems only increases potential hazards- turning rooftops into ticking time bombs.
These concerns have prompted many companies to prioritize system safety and invest in integrated energy storage solutions. Beyond improving energy efficiency, storage systems act as stabilizers—offering fault isolation and minimizing the chance of fire or electrical failure escalation.
Huijue’s Integrated Safety Solution
Huijue Technology Group has introduced premium home, commercial, and industrial energy storage solutions for safe rooftop PV application. Its systems are powered by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are highly thermally stable and safe. With internal protection features against overvoltage, overcurrent, and overtemperature, Huijue systems are designed to prevent short circuits and overheating.
For applications on rooftops, Huijue's storage systems are of compact sizes, have superior heat dissipation, and are IP54-rated enclosures with anti-wind and anti-corrosion features. During hot summers or heavy thunderstorms, these systems can operate unproblematically, reducing the likelihood of environmental stress-caused fire. They also support both DC and AC coupling, which is simple to add peak shaving, emergency backup, or time-of-use optimization.
When it comes to control, Huijue systems enable remote monitoring and intelligent fault detection. When something is out of the ordinary, an immediate alarm can be triggered by the system, or it can auto-shutdown, providing safety both to the solar equipment and the building it is powering.
Safety First for Rooftop Solar
The Wilton fire is a reminder that as roof photovoltaics are increasingly common, we also have to raise their safety. Huijue Technology Group keeps emphasizing the development of secure, efficient, and intelligent energy storage products. Through the utilization of Huijue's technologies, corporate rooftops, industrial parks, and public buildings can actually make solar energy not only greener but also safer, smarter, and more sustainable.
