
Solar farms are a key part of the UK’s renewable energy strategy, providing clean power to numerous homes and businesses. However, their remote locations and valuable equipment make them susceptible to various security threats.
Understanding the various security threats to UK solar farms is essential to protect sites, assets and revenues.
Security threats to solar farms you need to be aware of
Typically, the security threats to solar farms are external.
Typically the most common and key threats include:
Theft
Vandalism
Trespass
Furthermore, wind and rain can affect the effectiveness of surveillance systems. Lastly, cypber attacks are now very much front of mid to site opertors.
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest security challenges site operators face.
Theft of solar panels and copper wiring
This is certainly the most obvious threat.
Let us cover this in a little detail.
The issue: The UK has experienced a significant rise in solar farm-related crimes. As an example, In 2024, 750km of cable were stolen from UK solar farms. Furthermore, previous police figures revealed a 48% increase in solar panel and cabling theft from 2021 to 2022.
The motivation: High market prices for metals like copper make solar farms lucrative targets for thieves. Panels fetch a pretty penny in the underground economy, so are targeted by organised thieves.
The impact: Theft leads to substantial financial losses, operational downtime, and increased insurance premiums. Where sites experience downtime, revenue is lost. All in all, this represents a significant threat to solar site security.
The solution: To protect your site against equipment theft, deploy:
- CCTV surveillance systems
- Monitored CCTV & audio challenge
- Perimeter protection systems
- Intruder detection solutions
Vandalism and trespassing
Next on this list of known security threats is vandalism and trespass. Although not necessarily as costly as the impact of stolen panels, it is certainly one of the key threats to solar plants.
The culprits: Often off the beaten track, nosey individuals and more commonly, teenagers up to no-good, could hop a fence to take a look around the site.
Risks: Unauthorised access can result in accidental equipment damage, operational disruptions, and safety issues.
Consequences: If equipment or solar panels are damaged, repairs and replacements are costly and time-consuming.
The solution: To guard against trespass and vandalism, here are some solid solutions:
- CCTV monitoring
- Perimeter surveillance
- Perimeter intrusion detection systems
- Fencing and security lights
- CCTV signage
Extreme weather impacting security systems
Let’s see how wind, rain and falling branches impact could impact site security.
Challenges: Often off the beaten track, howling wind and lashing down rain can impact the performance of CCTV and perimeter protection systems.
Potential impact: Damaged security systems may fail to detect or deter intrusions effectively. Standard cameras may provide poor footage in poor conditions and falling branches may trigger false alarms.
The solution: To address this threat to security, consider deploying:
- Thermal CCTV cameras which work well in low light and poor conditions
- IR lighting to improve surveillance footage and video quality
Unauthorised access by staff or visitors
As mentioned at the start of this guide to the key security threats solar farms face, most are external. However, there are some internal threats to consider.
Internal threats: Unauthorised access by staff to certain areas of your site can lead to equipment tampering or data breaches.
The answer: Implementing strict access controls and regular audits can help manage this risk.
Solutions: Consider deploying the following solutions to manage and improve site access:
- Fob entry systems for staff and contractors
- Remote access control solutions
- Biometric face readers
- Intercoms
Relying on inadequate CCTV camera systems
Solar farms are businesses, and as a result, lowering costs, where possible is often front of mind for site owners and operators.
However, one of the biggest threats to solar farms is deploying cheap, inadequate cameras and systems.
Here is why you should avoid installing cheap CCTV systems at solar farms.
Limitations: Low-quality CCTV systems may lack the necessary features to monitor expansive solar farms effectively.
Issues: Poor image quality, system outages and the cost of replacing and repairing substandard equipment are all factors to consider.
Risks: Inadequate surveillance can result in undetected intrusions and delayed responses. As a result, panel theft, and the cost of replacing damaged equipment are headaches easily avoided.
The solution: Work with a specialist solar farm security company and seek guidance on the right devices and systems to protect your operations.
Poorly protected perimeters
Your site’s perimeter is your first layer of defence against crime.
Let’s take a look at why poorly protected perimeters are a security threat to utility-scale solar farms.
The issue: Without adequate perimeter protection, your site is vulnerable to intrusion.
Risks: Thieves, can easily enter your site, to scope it out for future criminal activity. And, trespassers can enter the site, injure themselves and claim against you.
The impact: Loss of revenue, stolen solar panels and the operational headache of insurance claims are outcomes you could face, by not securing your perimeter.
The solution: To protect your site’s perimeter and manage security effectively, deploy:
- Fencing and secure gates
- Perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS)
- Surveillance cameras
- Remote CCTV monitoring systems
Addressing threats to solar farm security
So far, we have offered insights into the most common security threats to solar farms.
We have guided you on some of the solutions available to meet and address specific threats.
Now, let’s summarise a recommended approach to protecting utility-scale solar farms against theft, intrusion, trespass and vandalism.
An integrated, holistic approach
If you are looking for total site security, deploy a multi-layered, integrated security infrastructure, combining:
- Surveillance
- Remotely monitored CCTV
- Physical barriers
- Perimeter protection
- Access control
- Alarms
All in all, this approach improves overall site security and detects and deters potential intruders.
How surveillance cameras, alarms, and perimeter protection work together
An integrated approach ensures CCTV cameras, alarms, and perimeter protection solutions work in harmony to detect, verify, and respond to threats efficiently.
Here are some examples of how an integrated approach works
Alarms & PTZ cameras
If an alarm is triggered by motion or an intruder entering a restricted area, the CCTV system can respond automatically.
It can be programmed to pan, tilt, or zoom in on a specific location for closer monitoring.
This provides real-time visual verification, and immediate eyeballs on the intruder.
Whether you monitor your CCTV internally, or via a CCTV monitoring company, the ability to double up on how you deal with threats, can only benefit site security.
Perimeter protection & surveillance cameras
When a perimeter detection system, such as a beam or vibration sensor, detects movement along the boundary, nearby surveillance cameras are activated to focus on the intrusion point.
The CCTV footage not only records the event but also helps identify the intruder, their actions, and any accomplices.
The role of monitored alarms & CCTV monitoring
As discussed, solar farms are often in remote locations.
Employing security guards 24/7 is expensive.
So, what is the solution?
CCTV monitoring and remotely monitored alarm systems.
If you are new to the concept of monitored security systems here’s an overview:
Alarms alert on-site security personnel and remote monitoring teams simultaneously.
With visual verification from CCTV, false alarms can be ruled out, and immediate action, such as contacting the authorities, can be taken to apprehend the intruder.
This seamless interaction between alarms, perimeter protection, and CCTV enhances detection accuracy and response speed, ensuring optimal protection for solar farms.
Working with a solar plant security specialist
If you are in the process of reviewing your options, here is a recommendation from us.
Working with a company, specialising in solar plant security gives you access to the level of expertise required to protect these sites.
They will design and deploy tailored solutions that address specific site vulnerabilities, and threats.
Moreover, they bring extensive knowledge of the threats commonly faced by solar farm operators.
They also have the expertise to manage installation challenges that less experienced companies might overlook.
Quick summary of the main security threats to solar sites
As a result of reading this guide now know the most critical threats to solar farms across the UK.
Theft, vandalism, trespass, and unauthorised access are all critical threats to operations, revenue and site operators.