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Are Your Valuable Solar Panels Secure?

The number of both commercial and residential solar panel installations across the UK is growing rapidly. In this post we look at this dramatic increase and highlight the need for solar panel security.

Since 2010 the number of solar panel installations in the UK has increased enormously. Prior to that year solar panel adoption was sluggish due to various factors including the high costs involved, poor return on investment and lack of government subsidies. One of the key reasons why solar panel installation subsequently increased was the feed-in tariff that paid people based on the amount of energy their panels generated and how much they were able to deliver back to the national grid.

Unfortunately the feed-in Tariff scheme closed on 31 March 2019 for all new applicants and this has slowed the growth in UK solar panel installations. But high energy prices and growing environmental awareness are key factors continuing to drive public demand for affordable solar energy.

Solar Car Parks

Solar car parks are not a new initiative, but they are growing in popularity. In France new legislation has been introduced to make it mandatory for all car parks with 80 spaces or more, both existing and new, to be covered by solar panels.

These solar canopies make sense as the car parking spaces are often situated adjacent to offices, hospitals and commercial premises where vast amounts of energy is needed. The canopies also protect vehicles from the weather and keep cars cool. And solar panels in car parks are optimally located to provide charging energy for electric vehicles (EV). This is ideal for office workers or visitors to football stadiums, shopping centres or leisure centres.

One of the largest current solar car park installations in the UK is at the Crewe based Bentley car factory where the installation has a peak energy generating capacity of 2.7MW. Car park solar canopies cost more than rooftop based solar installations due to the additional expense of the steel support structures. But this is considered to be the only downside with solar car park canopies estimated to yield around 14p to 15p per kWh while rooftop based installations yield electricity at around 9p per kWh.

High Energy Prices Driving Solar Adoption

Massive increases in the cost of energy, along with many more people working from home, has driven a surge in residential solar panel installations. Domestic installations of around 10 to 15 solar panels, each generating around 200 to 300W, can cost around £5000 to £8000. But this doesn’t include the cost of batteries, necessary for storing energy, which can add from £1200 to £6000 to the overall installation bill.

Domestic rooftop solar panels are ideally installed on south facing roofs at an optimal angle of 30 degrees. East or west facing rooftops yield around 20% less energy and north facing rooftops are generally considered to be unsuitable.

Solar panel installations are classed as permitted developments and therefore don’t require planning permission, in most situations. But if a property is a listed building or located in a conservation area restrictions may exist, so its always worth checking.

Do Solar Panels Add Value to Your Home?

People often want to know whether investing in solar panel installation increases the value of their property and if so, by home much.

The answer is - yes. Solar panels do increase the value of a property. Research in 2019 demonstrated how the value of a property with solar panels was boosted by around 4.1%. Another study, conducted in 2020, showed how the sale price for properties that had ‘gone solar’ had been escalated by around 14%, on average. Solar panels also make properties more appealing and marketable as eco-conscious home buyers are highly aware energy efficiency ratings and the ongoing costs involved in powering their abodes.

Solar Panel Theft

The energy crisis and high cost of living are cited as key drivers for the notable escalation in the theft of solar panels. Solar panel thefts are reported to have increased by a massive 22.5% year-on-year in 2022.

In 2021 220 solar panels along with two high-value electric inverters were stolen from a commercial poultry unit housing around 64,000 chickens in Lincolnshire. The solar panels were estimated to be worth around £70,000.

In another incident Northumbria police were alerted to suspicious behaviour at Gateshead International Stadium. Officers stopped a nearby van and found a number of stolen solar panels inside.

And in Wales Police are searching for thieves who stole 160 solar panels along with associated equipment from two solar farms near St George, Abergele and Llanelian, Colwyn Bay. Police know that those responsible for these crimes knew exactly what they were doing.

But solar panel theft isn’t limited to commercial operations and solar parks. A disabled lady in Evesham, Worcestershire lost around £3000 worth of rooftop solar panels, stolen from her home. Luckily, the solar thief was caught by police. 

Police intelligence shows a clear change in trends with solar panels and equipment becoming more appealing to thieves than stealing cable and copper wire. Criminals are known to advertise stolen panels online and sell them on the black market to people and companies who want to reduce their soaring energy costs.

It is anticipated that the ongoing energy and cost of living crisis is likely to drive even more solar panel thefts. People and organisations are urged not to buy second hand solar panels from unknown sources and to pay attention to the security of the panels they have.

How to Protect Solar Panels from Theft

Solar panels are highly visible on rooftops and in solar farms and criminals know how much they are worth. There is clearly a need for solar panel installations to be appropriately secured and protected and this requirement has prompted police forces along with solar energy system suppliers and installers to offer valuable security advice and guidance. Here are their primary recommendations.

Get Appropriate Insurance

As noted, domestic and commercial solar panel installations require significant investment. It therefore makes sense to get the right insurance.

For domestic installations, insurance companies will normally consider solar panels as ‘permanent home fixtures’, as long as the panels are attached to the roof and not located at ground level. Adding the value of a solar panel installation to an existing home insurance policy should not significantly increase insurance premiums.

Its worthwhile talking to your property insurance provider and provide them with details of your solar panel installation. They will generally be happy to recommend appropriate insurance cover and will often also offer valuable security advice to help protect the system from theft, damage and vandalism.

Security Mark Your Solar Panels

In one recent case of solar panel theft (Kidderminster, 150 stolen panels) police were able to identify the owners of recovered solar panels thanks to the use of SmartWater security marking. SmartWater is a traceable but invisible asset marking system that can be viewed under ultraviolet light.

Security marking solar panels makes them far less appealing to criminals as they know they won’t be able to easily sell them on the black market.

CCTV Installation

CCTV systems, with sophisticated remote access features, are becoming increasingly affordable and easy to install and use. Properties with CCTV security systems, alongside appropriate warning signage, are generally bypassed by criminals who will move on to find more viable targets.

 

Security Lighting

Criminals like to work unseen so it makes sense to install motion triggered security lighting. If a criminal is suddenly illuminated when they cautiously approach your solar installation this can be enough to scare them away.

Alarm Systems

Property alarm systems are another powerful anti-theft deterrent. Alarm systems might be triggered by motion and its also possible to attach alarms to solar panels such that any movement of the panels triggers the alarm and sends an alert to the property owner.

Perimeter Security

Establishing robust perimeter security around a valuable photovoltaic solar panel system is another valuable precaution. Security fencing along with concrete bollards that prevent vehicles from getting too close are worth considering for larger scale solar installations.

Rooftop Protection

Rooftop solar panel installations, on homes and commercial properties, can be protected using appropriate anti-climb barriers that prevent climbers from getting onto the roof. We recommend our Roller Barrier anti climb system which is now widely deployed to safely prevent people from climbing onto rooftops and other structures where they are not allowed.

 

Unlike spiked anti-climb barriers, Roller Barrier is entirely non-aggressive and will not cause harm to anybody who attempts to breach the protection. The system is also far more aesthetically attractive than aggressive spiked anti climb barriers.

Security Fasteners

Securing solar panels in place using high quality security fasteners is another valuable precaution. Specialised security fasteners cannot be undone using standard spanners or screwdrivers. Special tools are required to install and remove them.

Upgrading existing fasteners to security fastenings is a low cost security enhancement for solar panel installations.

Bird Proofing Solar Panels

Rooftop solar panel installations may attract pigeons, seagulls and other birds which can become a problem. Read our post on bird proofing solar panels to learn how our bird free gel is a long lasting, affordable and highly effective bird deterrent that will keep pest birds away from your panels. 

If you have any questions about Roller Barrier and how you can protect your valuable solar panels remember we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 475500 and we’ll provide you with free, expert advice.

This message was added on Thursday 22nd June 2023