The number of forest fires across Europe is rising, and the trend is no longer confined to the sun-baked shores of the Mediterranean. Wildfires are increasingly breaking out in Great Britain, Belgium, and Germany-countries not traditionally associated with such threats-driven by climate change and the more frequent, persistent heatwaves and droughts it brings. For the photovoltaic industry, this changing reality demands urgent adaptation. The risk of wildfires is expected to increase further, and solar assets-often sited in open, vegetated areas-are far from immune. But are we defenseless against these forces of nature? The experience of countries that have long grappled with wildfires suggests otherwise.
The Growing Threat to Solar Assets
Wildfires represent a double danger for photovoltaic systems. On one side, solar plants which are situated near vegetation zones are vulnerable to ground fires which are able to ruin or even damage solar panels, brackets and electric installations. On the other side, photovoltaic installations themselves can be act as fire starters. Electric failures such as overheating of the tracking system electronics or failure of a wiring could lead to the beginning of forest fires. For example, in Badajoz province in Spain, a fire covering nearly 800 hac started in the photovoltaic plant because a component of the tracking system overheated. The bigger the industry is getting, the more topical it becomes to create safety measures.
Lessons from France: The OLD Framework
France offers a valuable case study. In large parts of the country, property owners are legally required to implement what are known as Obligations Légales de Débroussaillement (OLD)-a term best translated as "legal brush-clearing obligations". Article L. 131-10 of the French Forestry Code defines brush clearing as "measures to reduce plant-based fuel of any kind with the aim of lowering fire intensity and curbing the spread of fires". These measures ensure sufficient breaks in the vegetation cover and involve pruning trees that are to be preserved while removing the resulting cuttings.
What makes the French approach particularly instructive is its broad geographic scope. Somewhat unusually for a country otherwise governed in a highly centralized manner, local prefectures determine the specific areas covered by the regulations. The affected regions are highlighted on the Geoportal map-and they extend far beyond the Mediterranean south. OLD requirements are in force in central France and even in Brittany and Normandy-areas with latitudes and meteorological conditions comparable to those in Germany. This suggests that similar measures may soon become relevant across much of Northern and Central Europe.
Key Preventive Measures for Solar Farms
The Aquitaine Forest Fire Protection Authority (Défense de la Forêt contre les Incendies, or DFCI) has published a dedicated guide for photovoltaic system operators. The recommended measures include:
Vegetation Management. Vegetation within the photovoltaic system must be kept short. This is the most straightforward requirement, as operators already have a direct economic interest in preventing shading. However, the mandated brush clearing extends much further-typically within a radius of up to 50 meters around the photovoltaic plant's perimeter fence. The goal is not to clear-cut trees or remove bushes entirely, but to reduce the amount of flammable vegetation.
Firebreaks and Ditches. For large-scale installations or sites bordering forests, the construction of ditches (fossé) may be mandatory. These firebreaks act as physical barriers that can slow or stop the advance of flames.
Emergency Access. A five-meter-wide access strip for emergency services must be maintained along both sides of the perimeter fence. This ensures that firefighters can reach the site and respond effectively.
Firefighting Infrastructure. Some operators install firefighting water bladders on-site-sometimes as a regulatory requirement, sometimes as a voluntary measure. These reserves can provide critical water supply in the event of a fire, especially in remote areas where municipal water sources may be unavailable.
Challenges and Practical Considerations
Carrying out these steps has its issues. Nearby parcels of land are often not included in existing lease contracts, forcing operators to work with adjacent landowners. Carrying out this task involves a lot of effort and expense; especially in cases where the location of a solar power plant is in the woods or in hilly locations that are hard to get to. Operators commonly have to deal with contradictions between fire safety regulations and species conservation laws as well as conflicts with ecological compensation rules and rake-out rules. Thus, cooperation with local governments is important.
Timing is another critical factor. If vegetation management begins too early in the year, growth may rebound significantly before summer. If it starts too late, a wildfire could break out before all protective measures are in place. This leaves only a narrow window-from late spring to early summer-that is suitable for the work, and finding a specialized contractor available during this period can be a challenge.
Beyond France: Innovative Approaches Across Europe
Like France, Spain has taken action in this regard. In Spain, Endesa plans to spend more than €2.5 million in 2026 on prevention, monitoring, and maintenance at its network of 59 photovoltaic plants, and intends to put special emphasis on areas where danger is latent, as is the case in Extremadura and Andalucía. Catalonia is implementing its plan to break down the continuity of forests by using security stripes and photovoltaic panels in the areas where forests are cut, thus combining fire protection with green energy. The regional government admits that eventually there will be fires impossible to stop and therefore prevention is the only approach to preventing disasters.
Meanwhile, innovative vegetation management techniques are gaining traction. Solar grazing-using sheep instead of mechanical equipment to control grass and weed growth-helps maintain site efficiency while reducing fire risks during dry summer months. Sheep can handle the tight spaces between and beneath panel arrays better than mowing equipment, and they keep vegetation at a height that won't shade the modules.
Conclusion
The increase in incidence and severity of wildfires across Europe emphasizes the importance of protecting solar assets-the need to do so stems from financial and operational point of view. France illustrates the importance of taking proactive measures in vegetation management in addition to firebreaks, emergency access, and firefighting infrastructure. Implementing these measures can be challenging, however, it is infinitely cheaper than being inactive with regard to investment assets: necessary action must be taken, otherwise equipment can be destroyed and the company can lose reputation and revenue. The photovoltaic sector must learn from the experience of the region which suffered from wildfires for many years.
