The Leipziger Volkszeitung reports in its issue of 05.08.2021 about thefts in connection with photovoltaic/solar technology.
According to the Landeskriminalamt of Saxony, 27 cases were detected in Saxony in the 1st half of the year with a total damage of 375,631 EUR. During this period, 100 inverters were stolen.

The comparison to the same period of the previous year is interesting. Although the number of thefts increased only slightly in 2021 (24 in 2020), the amount of damage (66,971 EUR) increased more than fivefold.

It is again stated that it is organized crime with professional approach. Especially the usual form of "securing" by a normal fence is described as insufficient.

The whole article is available here.The Leipziger Volkszeitung reports in its issue of 05.08.2021 about thefts in connection with photovoltaic/solar technology.
According to the Landeskriminalamt of Saxony, 27 cases were detected in Saxony in the 1st half of the year with a total damage of 375,631 EUR. During this period, 100 inverters were stolen.

The comparison to the same period of the previous year is interesting. Although the number of thefts increased only slightly in 2021 (24 in 2020), the amount of damage (66,971 EUR) increased more than fivefold.

It is again stated that it is organized crime with professional approach. Especially the usual form of "securing" by a normal fence is described as insufficient.

The whole article is available here.

Training is an important aspect at STYX Sicherheitstechnik GmbH. All security systems are only as good as they are installed, programmed and adjusted as well as recurring maintenance. Therefore we train our personnel frequently on all applied systems in both theory and practice.
 
For this purpose, we operate our in-house test field APTA, where the relevant systems are installed, tested and used for training purposes. In addition, we also use APTA for the further training of our customers. During a training course held in March 2021 under strict COVID 19 requirements, we taught both users and our own technicians the capabilities and performance limits of the various systems in a large-scale camera and video analytics test.
 
In addition to intensive training for our employees of the Honeywell ADPRO PIR detectors, we were able to impressively show our external training participants in theory and practice how powerful a high-quality perimeter security system must respond in order to effectively detect and verify any unauthorized intrusion. Different perpetrator behavior according to CPNI patterns as well as the use of deceptive and disruptive means showed that even the most powerful systems can reach their limits. For the participating representatives of security authorities and special units, various presentations by a customer but also experts for perimeter security with video surveillance showed which problems can arise from improper installations.
 
The success of the security training day and the feedback confirmed our efforts as to continue these events in the future.

The Dutch Groendus Projecten, an energy network of different companies (Greenspread / Rooftop Energy / Solaris Industria), awards AVASUN/STYX Sicherheitstechnik GmbH the contract securing a PV park in the south of the Netherlands. The order was preceded by a comprehensive written security concept, which AVASUN prepared and which was checked and approved by the insurance companies involved. The concept provides for uninterrupted monitoring of the approx. 2.7 km long fence line, as well as high-performance cameras to supplement the perimeter security. In addition, there is the possibility of direct perpetrator contact. The security system for the 30 MW solar farm will be implemented as early as the 2nd quarter of 2021.

AVASUN/STYX Sicherheitstechnik GmbH has been awarded the contract for securing a 62 MW solar park, PV park number 22 in Hungary. The Bulgarian client and EPC Solarpro Holding, trusts in AVASUN's competence as a specialized perimeter security installer. MET Holding AG from Zug, Switzerland, is the investor behind the new solar park and also knows it is in good hands, as this is already the second solar park to be protected by AVASUN. With a fence length of almost 7 km, the park will receive extensive security technology with a fence detection system and other security features for uninterrupted monitoring of the perimeter.

As the general contractor for the security technology, AVASUN perimeter protact, a brand of STYX Sicherheitstechnik GmbH, handed over the security and safety system for a 10 MW solar park in central Germany to the operator.
 
Among five competitors, AVASUN was awarded the contract in a tender prepared by the independent expert Markus Piendl, Munich. Piendl accompanied the operator, a cooperative bank from southern Germany, throughout the entire period up to the successful acceptance of the trades.
 
The solar farm, located near Magdeburg, had already experienced several successful thefts. In addition, there were two fires of the inverters in the stations. These total damages amounting to approx. 900,000 EUR now caused the operator and her insurance company to pull the emergency brake and act appropriately.
 
For this purpose, they called in Markus Piendl, who has extensive expertise with more than 800 photovoltaic parks assessed worldwide, as an independent project supervisor and expert. Piendl prepared a tender that placed high demands on the security technology. Thus, in addition to redundant sensor technology with 100% coverage of the perimeter, topics such as guard control system, addressing the perpetrator, IT hardening, VPN connection to a certified emergency call and security control center, as well as a complete implementation according to the state of the art were required.
 
Another expert for fire protection was responsible for assessing the fire hazard and the resulting measures to be taken.
 
In a first step after winning the tender for the security technology, AVASUN tested the combination of sensors for perimeter protection on its own test field APTA. The expert and the operator of the solar park checked the planned monitoring system in day and night tests in accordance with the very strict specifications of the CPNI (formerly i-Lids®) by means of various overcoming tests such as stooped walking, sealing/creeping and rolling through the monitored area.
 
A second video surveillance expert called in, Hannes Dopler from Vienna, complicated the tests by using laser pointers and various decoys such as smoke candles to determine the maximum reliable detection distance.
 
Piendl, Dopler and the operator were only satisfied and approved the subsequent surveillance solution for the photovoltaic park when all the planned sensors independently triggered an alarm without any gaps at the various distances.
 
The operator insisted on a single point of contact for the project. So AVASUN/STYX took on the general contractor role for all services to be provided, such as earthworks and foundation work, delivery of all necessary cables, delivery and installation of a station for the components of the security and fire protection technology. Also the construction of the entire security and fire protection system, as well as the coordination of personnel monitoring during the construction phase and the later connection to a certified security and emergency control center.
 
While the preparatory work was going on at the construction site, AVASUN configured the entire security technology in-house and checked it in advance for functionality and smooth interaction of all components.
 
In a next step, various re-enactments of fire situations were carried out. The unsuccessful attempts to extinguish the simulated thermite fires prompted the experts to follow the suggestion of our close partner company PHAO Sicherheits- und Elektrotechnik GmbH from near Frankfurt and to equip the stations with a smoke aspiration system, which disconnects the stations from the power supply at a very early stage. This reliably counteracts the development of a fire situation. The fire protection control panel used is integrated into the overall intrusion detection system.
 
After completion of all preparatory work such as cable laying and foundation construction for the camera poles, AVASUN and its partner PHAO began installing the security and fire protection technology in parallel. The deployment of personnel security during the entire installation period prevented an obviously planned further theft attempt on the site.
 
The completion of all work coincided with the peak phase of the second COVID-19 wave, and experts and the operator therefore decided to venture a novelty in pre-acceptance - a virtual acceptance online. For this purpose, René Steinkellner, head of STYX Sicherheitstechnik GmbH, wore a helmet camera and, together with his colleague, followed the instructions of the experts and the operator regarding the inspection of all services required in the tender and all required penetration tests in the perimeter. This was followed by the trial connection to the security and emergency call control center until the final acceptance on site later.
 
A particular challenge now became apparent in the strong animal population that colonized the park, ranging from rabbits to foxes and wild boars to a wolf. This situation entailed upgrading the existing chain-link fence to minimize animal intrusion by crawling underneath.
 
At the end of February 2021, experts and the operator once again checked the security and fire protection system for the solar park in extensive tests and then granted acceptance. With great interest from the fire department, police, state criminal investigation office, security service provider and manufacturer, AVASUN and its partner companies handed over the solar park to the operator with the good feeling of having created an excellently secured area in terms of both theft protection and fire prevention.

Despite the Corona crisis and tough competition, AVASUN, in conjunction with RP security solutions, was able to secure another larger order in Hungary.
 
It concerns an approx. 40 MW solar park, which was planned and will be built by one of the well-known and important solar companies in Germany.
Digital fence detection, extensive video verification as well as various other monitoring measures are used.
 
The entire security package had already met the high and very detailed requirements of the ERGO insurance company in previous orders and was able to prove its performance capability through extensive acceptance tests by an expert.
 
However, the decisive factors for the award of the contract were not only price-related aspects, but also the always prompt assistance with technical questions and support for the planning implementation of the security technology. Questions and technical requirements were answered or solved within a few hours to a maximum of one day.
 
This rapid support and the flexible availability of AVASUN is highly appreciated by all previous customers according to their own statements and underlines the reliability, which is described as great at AVASUN.

12 megawatts: this number describes the output of the new photovoltaic power plant that AVASUN will soon be equipping with technology for the site protection.
 
The photovoltaic park, which covers an area of around 13 hectares, is being built in Leeuwarden (Friesland) in the Netherlands on behalf of a major global player in the photovoltaic industry.
 
Specifically, AVASUN will install a perimeter protection system with thermal imaging cameras and video analysis by summer 2020.
We will be responsible for the complete planning, installation and commissioning of the new security technology at the solar park.
 
As this is our first project for our new customer in the Netherlands, we very much appreciate the trust placed in us and are looking forward to further cooperation. Especially since the Netherlands is in the middle of an energy transition process towards more renewable energy sources.

While in earlier years a maintenance contract was rather the exception, more and more operators and EPCs are moving towards signing long-term maintenance contracts for security installations.
 
On the one hand, this is due to the increased requirements of insurance companies demanding a functional security system over its lifetime, but also certainly due to extended warranty periods, which we offer as installers - in one case over 10 years with a corresponding surcharge and maintenance contract.
 
Therefore, the maintenance and servicing of a security system is essential and contributes to the preservation and continuity of the overall system security.
 
For this purpose, AVASUN also technically connects the entire plants to itself in order to always be able to check whether possible impairments of the safety system have occurred between the maintenance and servicing cycles.
 
Fast response times of the service team help in case of unexpected problems via remote maintenance or directly on site.

A large solar park in southern Africa also needs a "live-cell therapy" in the course of upgrades.
Technology that is getting on in years is being renewed and the latest software solutions are being used in the course of additions.
 
We are talking about thermal imaging cameras, which are partly renewed and partly supplemented, but also long-range pan/tilt infrared cameras, which have to be supplemented due to changes in the park.
 
Video management and video analytics will also receive an all-round renewal package, to the latest software with simultaneous checking and adjustment of all components.

After our successful projects in Hungary, a continuation of the previous project work with parks in the triple-digit MW range is emerging here.
 
Thus, Hungary crystallizes as one of the current main markets for photovoltaic projects.
 
Also in the Netherlands and Spain ( continental and island ) several projects are close to completion or in the final project planning phase. Likewise, projects are again emerging on the African continent, but will not be executed until early 2020.
 
All in all, it can be said that the topic of security on photovoltaic parks continues to receive a high level of attention and this trend also continues unbroken.