Five consecutive cases of photovoltaic panel theft

Taylor, presenting at a Solar Crime Open Day event organized by site security company DeterTech and London-based asset manager Schroders, reported a 48% rise in cabling and solar panel theft from solar sites between 2021 and 2022. Speakers at the event, held in Telford, in the west of England, appealed for solar. . Copper hit a record GBP 7,500 per ton in February, according to Richie Iwanoff, head of telecommunications company British Telecom’s acquisitive crime team. The price is expected to top GBP 10,000 per ton within a year, he. . Trade body Solar Energy UK confirms the picture and Taylor and Oakley emphasized the need for site operators to report even trivial incidents to help police build a bigger picture of solar crime. Minor wire cutting could indicate. . “We know some of the stolen property, stolen panels, are also being sold rather brashly and brazenly on social media,” said Taylor. “When you consider there are 1.4 million solar panels in a domestic setting in the UK, and. . The rise of organized crime raids has been accompanied by more opportunistic thefts in the UK, of panels for resale. “The cost-of-living crisis has worsened matters and there has been a big rise. [pdf]

FAQS about Five consecutive cases of photovoltaic panel theft

How many solar panels can a thief remove?

Viamon's Strecke says organized raiders typically remove 100 panels to 300 solar panels – 10 tons’ worth at the top end. In one case, he adds, thieves removed more than 15,000 panels – 5 MW of generation capacity – in one weekend. “It is organized crime, with big logistics in the background,” he says.

Are solar panels stolen?

Several instances of solar panel theft have been reported, including an incident at Gateshead International stadium as well as a larger incident in 2021 in which 221 solar panels were stolen from a solar farm. Solar panel theft is the primary issue, although some landowners report that it isn’t just the panels themselves that are stolen.

Are solar panels a crime?

Vandalism is not always a planned, deliberate crime. Still, it can be caused by disruptive individuals who see a remote field of solar panels as a chance to cause extreme damage without being caught, smashing solar panels and rendering them redundant.

How much does a solar theft cost?

Strecke says European solar thefts typically cause €60,000 ($63,900) of damage, when repairs and loss of business are factored in. “Solar crime is on the increase,” says Rachael Oakley, director of crime intelligence at Telford-based DeterTech, formally known as SmartWater Group thanks to its product-marking technology.

Are solar panels a target for criminals?

Large solar panel farm installations can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, and even small-scale residential grids require an upfront investment. This factor is one of many that make solar panels an easy target for criminals. Let’s look at some of the major issues:

How many solar panels can a Raider remove?

DeterTech, which also offers remotely monitored CCTV cameras and products to warn potential intruders, has almost 1 GW of solar generation capacity under its protection. Viamon's Strecke says organized raiders typically remove 100 panels to 300 solar panels – 10 tons’ worth at the top end.