As sustainability efforts scale up across the country, solar farms and the energy they produce have become an essential part of the overall energy system. How can we assist with proactive solar farm security?
Solar farms contribute to our sustainable future.
Solar farms are contributing a large part to Canada’s sustainable future, but due to their remote nature, many of these locations are vulnerable to the threat of trespassing, theft, and vandalism. Thieves seek out solar farms for the high re-sale value of solar panels themselves, and the expensive copper wiring used in the electrical systems on-site. The rise in crimes affecting solar farms is alarming because many communities across Canada have turned to solar energy as a reliable means of power generation, with many making huge strides towards complete sustainability. This makes the need for effective sustainable energy security on solar farms even more apparent.
In April 2024, the Ulkatcho First Nation in Anahim Lake, B.C. received significant funding from the provincial government for 30 acres of land to build solar farms. It will be the country’s largest off-grid solar farm, and will save the local community upwards of 1.1 million litres of diesel fuel every year. The $30 million project will produce enough electricity to power 350 homes, greatly reducing the community’s dependence on diesel fuel. (1)
Prince Edward Island has also witnessed the positive environmental and economic impacts of solar farms. In 2024, two large scale solar farms came fully online, and as a result the province is now producing twice as much solar energy as it had previously. The province is proving their commitment to sustainable energy by leveraging a combination of wind farms and solar farms to generate power during the many seasonal changes that occur throughout the year. In April 2024, the town of Summerside, PEI became 100 percent powered by solar energy. (2)
Recent incidents raise the alarm for solar farm security.
Recent headlines only further illustrate the need for robust security for solar farms. In March 2024, RCMP officers in Bay St. George, NL investigated intentional property damage and vandalism at a meteorological research site. A number of solar panels and other equipment were seriously damaged, and as this is the 2nd time that the property was struck by vandals, concerns of the site’s security have become more serious. (3)
In August 2024, a commercial solar project site in Toronto, ON was the victim of an attempted break-in. Burglars attempted to gain access to several sea-can containers that stored solar panels and other equipment vital to the project. The owner of the property’s main concern was not for the solar panels themselves, which are more difficult for thieves to transport. The larger concern was for the spools of valuable copper wiring found on site, which is easier to move and sell for a quick profit. (4)
How can we help provide effective solar farm security?
Artificial Intelligence provides next-generation detection
Our proprietary artificial intelligence platform, syncroAI, provides advanced detections so our team can deter crime in real-time. Leveraging the host of data from our incident database, AI will accurately detect & identify human movement from the abundance other visual information caught on camera – including inanimate objects, wildlife movement, weather patterns, and more. Artificial intelligence has given our Live Remote Video Monitoring team an explicit advantage in providing solar farm security protection.
Mobile & Solar Video Security Units package powerful solar farm security cameras
Our Video Security Units are a complete package of solar farm security camera technology to capture everything that occurs on-site. They come fully equipped with two stationary cameras to establish perimeter protection and situational awareness. The inclusion of a dedicated PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera allows our Monitoring team to zoom in high resolution, providing high quality footage of every move. Our Video Security Units harness the power of wireless network connectivity –anchored by our proprietary cellular LTE+ platform. Installation on your site is fast and easy, with multiple independent units installed to provide full coverage of your solar farm.
Our Mobile Security Units take this same robust camera technology on the go, and can be installed within minutes to establish proactive protection on-site. Just like the solar farm it protects, our Solar Video Security Unit leverages the power of solar energy to provide a proactive and sustainable security solution that is ideal for these remote properties.
Live Remote Video Monitoring is crime deterrence in real-time
Live Remote Video Monitoring establishes proactive security on remote sites, and our team keep a close watch over solar farm properties. When an individual is detected within camera view, our team will issue proactive deterrents to ward trespassers off-site. These deterrents include loud, authoritative voice commands and LED bright strobe lights to send the message home that the site is off-limits. When required, Police will be dispatched to the site to intervene. Furthermore, the footage captured by our Video Monitoring team is also useful for evidence gathering for civil restitution if loss or damage of solar equipment & materials is incurred.
Battery Backup Systems are there when it matter most
Remote properties such as solar farms may be lacking in traditional power sources needed to run our Video Security devices, or may have intermittent power available. This is where our Battery Backup Systems come into play. This system provides power to a unit if there is no power source on-site or if power is known to be inconsistent. Our 24-hour system can be installed to cover a full day, or our 72- hour system can be leveraged for longer periods when there is no power present or extended periods of intermittent power or power-down states are expected. By implementing these battery backups on-site, we help ensure continuity in our solar farm security efforts.
syncroReports is your one-stop security portal
Our proprietary reporting platform, syncroReports is your full service portal for security reporting and information. Through this portal you can access detailed log reports, PTZ camera control, live video feeds, and snapshots are available at the click of a button. syncroReports allows for effective project management from a distance – which is ideal for remote sites where travel to the site isn’t always feasible.
Solar farms are an essential part of Canada’s sustainability efforts. With sustainable energy security through Live Remote Video Monitoring, we can help to ensure these properties keep the solar power flowing to communities across the country.
Resources:
- “Solar farm in B.C. expected to save 1.1 million liters of diesel a year”, CBC News, April 23, 2024
- “P.E.I. sees ‘exponential growth’ in solar energy production”, Kevin Yarr, CBC News, July 20, 2024
- “Bay St. George RCMP investigates property damage at World Energy GH2 site in Mainland”, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, March 13, 2024
- “Forced entry and attempted theft at Toronto-area solar project site”, Sofia Martimianakis, PV Buzz Media, August 7, 2024