Kilowat: The fire risk of photovoltaic systems is increasing exponentially in Romania, due to the increasingly frequent unauthorized installations on Romanian houses

In the last year, more and more ANRE unauthorized companies have appeared, abusing the ignorance and faith of Romanians who want to get rid of their energy bills as quickly as possible.

Houses where photovoltaic systems are installed by companies without ANRE authorization are subject to a high risk of fire, as all the safety rules for installing solar panels are not known and respected, warn the representatives of the Kilowat company. The risk of fire increases in direct proportion to the appearance of more and more unauthorized companies, favored by the potential of this field in Romania and the desire of Romanians to get rid of energy bills. The situation is all the more dramatic as many Romanians, who do not benefit from the Casa Verde program or do not have financial resources, take out bank loans to be able to install solar panels, a situation that companies without authorization take advantage of.

“Romania has the biggest advance regarding green energy. But despite the good things in favor of Romanians and suppliers in compliance, such as the Casa Verde and ElectricUP programs, there are companies that install solar panels without ANRE authorization and thus affect a field in full development and the lives of Romanians. Romanians are victims of these companies. In the last year, more and more companies have appeared without being officially regulated for the installation of solar panels, which abuse the need of Romanians to be energy independent in order to get rid of energy bills. There are more and more Romanians who are struggling to get a loan, to get a loan for solar panels, and these companies are putting them at great risk. With more and more such companies, Romania risks becoming the country of burnt billboards, but worst of all destroyed homes. Instead of getting rid of the worry of energy bills, Romanians can end up worrying that the roof can catch fire and that they will lose their homes. In order to prevent any damage, we recommend them to check if the installer has ANRE authorization and to work only with validated suppliers who comply with safety rules”, points out Albert Soare, founder of Kilowat.

What can cause the failure of photovoltaic panels

Romanians are increasingly interested in becoming energy independent, therefore the demand for solar panels has grown rapidly in recent years. According to Kilowat data, 70% of applicants are not beneficiaries of the Casa Verde program, which puts them at risk of working with a company without ANRE certification.

In the absence of ANRE authorization, companies are not obliged to be up to date with the rules and news in the field for safety, to be accredited, to have qualified staff, and to guarantee the quality of the services and equipment used. In many cases, to attract customers, companies without ANRE authorization use equipment of mediocre quality to install photovoltaic systems at a price much lower than the market price.

“Photovoltaic cables with low resistance and quality are often used, being the main trigger of fires. The cables connect the solar panels to the inverter, and if they do not comply with safety regulations, they can cause damage. In this field, you can’t discount anything – neither from the equipment, nor from the specialization of the installers, nor the actual installation. Of course, a lower cost can be more convincing, especially for those who do not benefit from the subsidy through the Casa Verde program. Still, the installation of photovoltaic systems is an important choice with the role of changing the lives of the beneficiaries for the better. And Romanians need security, they need the guarantee of a job well done in order not to be left without homes. A company with ANRE authorization, with accredited installers who strictly follow the installation rules, is the guarantee of safety for Romanians when they decide to install photovoltaic panels to get rid of the worry of energy bills”, explains Albert Soare, founder of Kilowat.

Kilowat representatives have found that unauthorized installations bring multiple dangers, including:

• Use of inappropriate materials: Unauthorized installers may use inferior or unapproved materials that are not designed to meet the specific safety requirements of a PV system.
• Improper installation of equipment: Lack of specialist knowledge and experience in the correct installation of solar equipment can lead to poor connections, overheating of components and ultimately the risk of fire.
• Neglecting electrical safety rules: Unauthorized installers may ignore or neglect electrical safety rules, such as using appropriate protective equipment and observing minimum distances between components, thus increasing the risk of short circuit and fire.

Kilowat strongly urges homeowners and consumers in Romania to be extremely careful when installing PV systems and to always choose licensed and qualified installers. It is essential to comply with the rules and regulations in force to guarantee the safety of your own homes and communities.

In addition, Kilowat recommends that homeowners with PV systems perform periodic inspections and regular equipment maintenance to detect and fix potential problems before they become dangerous.

In an increasingly unstable economic-political context, Romanians, both individuals and legal entities, are feeling the ever-increasing costs of energy and are turning to photovoltaic systems, which could reduce these costs by up to 6 times. Thus, 2024 will be the best year for the photovoltaic systems market, with a growing demand, especially from rural Romanians, and with a high interest in financing from SMEs, Kilowat forecasts show. But with the increase in the number of solar panel installations, the risk of fire also increases exponentially, especially after calling on a company without ANRE authorization.

About Kilowat

Founded by the founders of the SanoVita company, Kilowat is one of the largest renewable energy solutions companies in Romania. With a team of specialists in consulting and installation of solar systems, the company offers complete solutions from the sale of photovoltaic systems to the installation of solar panels and post-installation consulting and maintenance of photovoltaic systems. So far, Kilowat has installed over 1,000 photovoltaic systems, for 700 beneficiaries throughout the country, of which 30% through the Casa Verde program. The company has B authorization for medium voltage and for verification and control, as well as installer authorization for the Huawei, Deye, Growatt range, etc. and collaborates with authorized suppliers of metal supports (K2 Germany, Aerocompact, Grup Simex).

Kilowat offers support for the online monitoring of the photovoltaic system, tracking and optimizing the system through updates and adapted parameterization, the technical settings being adjusted for maximum efficiency, also having a service dedicated to after-sales assistance, thus ensuring all the necessary support for an ideal long-term operation medium and long.

15.02.2024 / Editor, Andreea Dragan

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