Following an organised copper theft, the operator is turning to smart perimeter surveillance and drastically reducing false alarms

It was an incident that laid bare the vulnerability of modern energy infrastructure: a large-scale copper theft struck a solar park in Almelo, the Netherlands, near the German border. Organised criminals gained access to the site and caused considerable damage to the technical infrastructure. It quickly became clear to the operator that traditional security measures were no longer sufficient.

Today, a new LiDAR-based security system monitors the extensive site – with significantly greater precision and considerably fewer false alarms. The case serves as a prime example of how security requirements in the renewable energy sector are changing.

Ground-mounted plants are increasingly targeted

Solar parks are increasingly seen as attractive targets for professional criminal gangs. The main reason lies in the high value of the materials: copper cables, battery systems and technical components can be stolen relatively quickly and resold at a profit.

Large ground-mounted plants in particular often have only a minimal staff presence. Long fences, remote locations and extensive technical infrastructure further complicate comprehensive surveillance.

According to international market observations, the number of security incidents at European solar parks has been rising significantly for years. Copper thefts in particular cause massive economic damage. In some cases, dozens of kilometres of cabling are stolen during a single break-in. Added to this are production losses, repair costs and rising insurance premiums.

Limitations of conventional security technology

In the case of Almelo, the weaknesses of conventional security measures became clearly apparent. Standard camera systems, fences and traditional motion detection were unable to identify the perpetrators at an early stage or deter them effectively.

The operator therefore decided, together with its security partner Loogisch, to fundamentally overhaul the security concept. The project was supported by the distributor SmartSD and the technology provider OPTEX.

At the heart of the new solution is the REDSCAN RLS-50100V LiDAR sensor from OPTEX.

Laser scanning for more precise perimeter detection

The LiDAR technology used employs laser scanning and enables significantly more precise motion detection than traditional sensor technology. Instead of merely registering movements in general, the system analyses their characteristics and can distinguish between actual intruders and environmental factors.

According to those involved in the project, this was precisely one of the key advantages. Rain, fog, wind or vegetation often lead to false alarms in conventional detection systems. The LiDAR-based solution filters out such interference much more precisely.

According to the manufacturer, the sensor used covers areas of up to fifty by one hundred metres and supports several separate detection zones. This allows critical areas within the site to be prioritised specifically.

For extensive energy facilities, this results in an important economic factor: large areas can be secured with comparatively few sensors.

Solar panels complicate detection

Nevertheless, the implementation proved technically challenging. Solar panels generate strong reflections and glare that can affect optical detection systems. In addition, many technical installations are located close to the ground, meaning that animals or birds can trigger false alarms.

The project partners responded by making targeted fine adjustments to the sensor positions and detection zones. OPTEX also supported the implementation through remote configurations and optimisations based on practical tests during live operation.

According to Frank Pikkemaat, it was precisely this fine-tuning phase that played a key role in the system’s subsequent stability. Only the combination of technical fine-tuning and site-specific adaptation reduced false alarms in the long term.

Over 90 per cent fewer false alarms

According to the operator, the results show significant improvements. Since the new system was commissioned, no further successful intrusions have been recorded. At the same time, the number of unnecessary alarms has fallen by more than ninety per cent.

Particularly relevant here is the integration into video management and real-time visualisation platforms. This enables security managers to assess detected incidents immediately and respond more quickly to suspicious activities.

The case thus illustrates a key trend within the security industry: modern perimeter security is increasingly moving away from isolated sensor technology towards intelligently networked situational awareness systems.

Renewable energies become a critical infrastructure task

The development in Almelo is exemplary of a broader shift in the European energy sector. As renewable energies expand, the importance of corresponding protective measures for critical infrastructure grows in tandem.

Solar parks, battery storage facilities and wind turbines are not only coming under greater scrutiny from organised crime, but are also increasingly becoming the focus of security policy discussions regarding sabotage, resilience and security of supply.

This is significantly shifting the role of physical security technologies: perimeter surveillance is increasingly becoming part of strategic KRITIS resilience.

In particular, smart sensor technology, AI-supported analysis platforms and integrated real-time situational awareness are likely to play a central role in the future in securing extensive energy infrastructures in a way that is both cost-effective and resilient.