How To Protect Your Solar Panels From Theft

As load-shedding has become a daily part of our lives, and reliance on the grid is not a future many of us can hope for, more South Africans are moving towards energy independence. This could be done through battery storage technology to hold you over during intermission or generating your own power through wind and solar generation on your property.

PV-Solar has become a popular home upgrade of late, with panels sold out and manufacturers struggling to keep up with global demand. According to reports by insurer King Price, R3.6 billion worth of solar panels was estimated to be imported to South Africa during the first quarter of 2023. South Africans are not only competing with each other for these resources but the world, and because of that, black markets have sprung up where low-quality solar panels or stolen panels can find buyers.

The demand for solar panels locally and South Africans willing to look the other way in supporting crime has started a new gold rush in the theft of green tech.

Solar power theft is the act of stealing solar panels or other components of a solar power system. Solar power vandalism is the act of damaging or destroying solar panels or other components of a solar power system.

In both cases, you drive up scarcity for these purchases because thieves damage components during disassembly. Solar power theft and vandalism are becoming increasingly common in South Africa. According to security firm ADT, solar panel theft is one of the fastest-growing categories of property theft.

Methods of preventing solar power theft and vandalism

As South Africans, we are all too familiar with the need to protect our private property, and energy independence only makes our homes a more attractive target. In many cases, these are expensive renovations that are challenging for many of us to repeat, and even if we had the funds, the disruption in service and the sourcing of new parts make this type of theft even more painful.

If you are a South African who has decided to go solar, there are several things you can do to prevent solar power theft and vandalism.

Some of these methods include:

• Install your solar panels in a well-lit area.
• Install your solar panels securely, such as behind a fence or wall or obfuscate them by building a green roof enclosure.
• Get to know your neighbours and watch out for each other's property.

But if you're looking for something more comprehensive, you can try the following.

Install security cameras.

Security cameras can deter thieves and help you identify them if they steal your solar panels.

Install motion sensor lights.

Motion sensor lights can deter thieves and alert you if someone approaches your solar panels.

Use a solar panel lock.

A solar panel lock can make it more difficult for thieves to steal your solar panels. While these locks can make it harder to remove panels, they can ensure more damage should criminals try to remove them forcibly. It might stop your panels from being stolen, but it could end up being unusable anyway.

Mark your solar panels.

Criminals are likely looking to steal panels to resell and not to use in their own homes, so making your panels can be an annoyance for them. Marking your solar panels with your name or address can make them less attractive to thieves. Ensure you engrave them deeply, making it hard to buff them out.

Tie your solar panel to your alarm system.

If you have motion sensors or tamper-proof locks on your solar panels, connecting them to your alarm system to trigger the alarm and your armed response is a great way to scare criminals off before they damage your setup.

Make your solar panels and systems hard to access.

Please don't leave your garbage bin, drums or ladders lying around and make it easy to access your roof; also, ensure that your walls have spikes, barbed wire, or an electric fence making it harder for criminals to use your fencing to scale and reach your roof.

Your goal is to make it as hard as possible to get to your panels and drag out the time it takes to remove them. The longer it takes, the higher the chance of the criminal getting caught.

Sign up for an armed response.

Suppose you spend hundreds of thousands of Rands to remain energy independent. In that case, the least you can do is sign up for armed response and pay the monthly premium to have peace of mind that someone will check up on your property should your solar panels be tampered with and stop further damage.

Report suspicious activity to the police.

If you see someone suspicious near your solar panels, report it to the police immediately, along with your neighbourhood watch. If your home has been ransacked, you should warn others that a syndicate has decided to operate in your area.

Get insurance.

Even if you have all the deterrents in the world, it doesn't mean it won't stop criminals from trying something stupid; while they might not get away with your entire system, they might do damage to part of it, to your roof or struts which can be costly to repair. Insurance can help you recover the cost of your solar panels if they are stolen or vandalised.

Secure your solar.

We know this is a lot to consider, but this is South Africa, and as homeowners, we need to be prepared for any and every eventuality. By following these tips, you can help to prevent solar power theft and vandalism. By protecting your solar power system, you can ensure that you continue to enjoy the benefits of solar power and avoid Eskom annoying you daily.

Remember, every deterrent you put up is also one you will have to deal with in the future, so consider how you plan to clean and maintain your system before you start building some elaborate protection for your solar system.

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Recommended reading

If you enjoyed this post and have time to spare, why not check out these related posts and dive deeper down the rabbit hole that is renewable energy.

• How To Get Off The Eskom Grid In South Africa
• Why You Should Replace Your Old Windows With Energy-efficient Windows
• What Are Your Electric Car Options In South Africa?
• EskomSePush: Best Apps To Keep Up To Date With The Loadshedding

Tags: Solar Energy, Home Security