Six critical incidents led Amazon to shut down US rooftop solar systems
Amazon shut down rooftop solar systems at all 47 of its North American sites in 2021 after six facilities reported fires or arc flash incidents. A later audit found one critical and 259 significant issues across its global solar portfolio, including mismatched connectors, improper installation, poor wire management and water intrusion in inverters.
Between April 2020 and June 2021, Amazon experienced six critical incidents involving its rooftop solar systems across 47 facilities in North America. The incidents included fires and arc flashes, with one facility even requiring over 60 firefighters. Amazon decided to shut down its US solar operations in June 2021 until the systems were deemed safe to use again.
An internal Amazon report described the rate of dangerous incidents as "unacceptable and above industry averages." Experts from Clean Energy Associates conducted an audit, which found one critical issue and 259 significant findings, including mismatched connectors, incorrectly installed connectors, poor wire management, and water intrusion in inverters.
These issues were primarily due to the connections and installations of the solar systems. The cost of keeping the systems offline amounted to approximately $2.7 million per incident, and Amazon lost about $940,000 per month in lost electricity generation. The problems led to a tightening of safety requirements for solar connectors, with newer systems now required to have connectors listed as suitable for intermatability. By the end of 2021, Amazon had rooftop solar powering 115 of its fulfilment centres globally.
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