Suffolk council switches off solar panels at 80 schools after fires

Suffolk County Council has switched off solar panels at 80 schools after three fires broke out at school buildings in the county over roughly one year. The most recent fire happened at Sidegate Primary in July 2026, where firefighters confirmed that a rooftop solar panel started the blaze. Around 650 pupils and 100 staff had to leave the building. Earlier fires occurred at East Bergholt Primary in August 2025 and Brooklands Primary in March 2026. The council said it cannot confirm that all three fires share a single cause, though solar panels were involved each time. The affected schools all had systems fitted between 2011 and 2016. Energy specialists suggested the real problem may lie with electrical components such as wiring or inverters rather than the panels themselves. The National Education Union had warned the council about safety concerns back in April 2026.