Solar Farm Theft is on the Rise – Here’s How to Secure your Solar Farm

The Solar energy industry is booming in the UK. Thousands of solar farms across the country now provide clean, green electricity to millions of homes and businesses. But there’s a problem: the very nature of solar farms makes them vulnerable to criminals.

Unlike factories or warehouses, solar farms can’t simply be locked up behind closed doors. They depend on wide-open spaces and clear skies. Spread across remote fields or alongside quiet roads, their highly visible solar panels and equipment are easy targets for theft and vandalism. And because of their isolated locations, they can be difficult to protect without professional help.

In this article, we’ll explain exactly what makes solar farms so attractive to criminals, what the main security risks are and how you can take practical steps to protect your solar farm and protect your investment.

The Growing Threats to Solar Farm Security

Solar power in the UK is growing faster than ever. As of early 2025, the UK had over 1,450 solar farms, generating more than 15.7 gigawatts (GW) of electricity*. And there’s more on the way with planning permission granted for thousands more solar farms, the number could soon double.

This rapid growth is fantastic news for renewable energy and climate goals, but it also means more solar farms, often located in isolated rural or semi-rural areas, far from security services and built-up communities. The increasing number of these high-value, exposed sites has directly contributed to rising crime rates targeting solar installations.

*solarpowerportal.co.uk

Why are Solar Farms Vulnerable?

Solar farms aren’t typical business premises. Their remote locations and open layouts leave them vulnerable to several key security risks, including:

Open and Remote Locations: Solar farms need large, open spaces, often miles from towns or villages. Criminals can enter and exit unnoticed, especially at night.

High-Value Equipment: Solar panels and copper wiring are valuable commodities on the black market, making solar farms an appealing target.

Minimal Security Measures: Many solar farms have basic or no security systems in place, leaving them poorly protected.

Difficult to Monitor: Because solar farms stretch across acres of land, they are challenging to monitor effectively without specialised security equipment and trained personnel.

Main Security Risks for Solar Farms

Here’s a closer look at the most common crimes affecting solar farms in the UK today:

1 – Solar Panel Theft

Solar panels are not only essential equipment but also extremely valuable. They’re easily visible from roads or paths, making them prime targets for thieves. Panels stolen in large numbers can cost farm owners tens of thousands of pounds and severely disrupt energy production.

2 – Cable and Wiring Theft

Solar farms depend heavily on copper cables and wiring, which thieves target for their high resale value. Cable theft doesn’t just cause financial loss, the repairs and replacing of cabling can halt operations for days or weeks, significantly affecting productivity.

Recent police reports reveal cable theft has surged, with more than 70 incidents in eight months during 2024 alone. Some thefts have involved kilometres of copper cable, highlighting the severity of the problem.

3 – Trespassing and Vandalism

Not all crimes are motivated by money. Solar farms are often targeted by vandals and trespassers simply because they’re easily accessible and isolated. Damage from trespassing or deliberate vandalism can include smashed panels, damaged cabling and costly downtime for repairs.

This kind of damage not only means immediate financial costs but can significantly disrupt long-term operations and business planning.

4 – Protests and Disturbances

Solar energy is clean and beneficial, but not everyone supports local solar developments. In some communities, solar farms have faced opposition from residents who dislike their appearance or believe they spoil natural areas.

Protests have led to vandalism, deliberate damage and disruption. Demonstrations, even peaceful ones, can escalate, creating ongoing challenges for solar farm operators.

5 – Public Liability Risks

If someone illegally enters your solar farm and gets injured, as a landowner you may still face costly legal claims. Even unlawful intruders can attempt to claim against landowners for personal injuries or accidents, creating unexpected legal costs and headaches.

Real-world Examples of Solar Farm Crime

These real incidents from around the UK clearly illustrate the seriousness of solar farm crime.

North Wales, 2019

Thieves stole 150 solar panels from two separate solar farms in Abergele and Colwyn Bay. Police noted the criminals targeted storage containers and operational panels overnight and highlighted the thieves’ knowledge of solar equipment.

Worcestershire, 2023

Over £100,000 worth of solar equipment was stolen from a rural solar farm in a carefully coordinated night raid. Thanks to quick police action, some 550 panels of the stolen equipment were recovered from a property in Gloucestershire, but repairs and disruptions continued for weeks afterward.

*West Mercia Police, North Wales Police

How to Protect your Solar Farm from Crime

Solar farms are tricky to secure by yourself. They’re usually in remote areas, spread across open fields and full of valuable equipment, making them easy targets. Triton Security know exactly how to protect these unique sites effectively, tailoring specialist methods to the specific risks and layout of your solar farm, keeping it safe around the clock. Here’s how we do it:

Manned Guarding – Professional security officers provide a visible presence, deterring criminals and immediately responding to incidents or threats.

Mobile Patrols – Teams perform scheduled and random patrols, covering vulnerable times like night and weekends, reducing risk and catching potential intruders off-guard.

K9 Security Units – Specially trained dogs quickly and effectively cover vast open areas, detecting intruders early and deterring criminal activity.

CCTV Surveillance – State-of-the-art surveillance systems, including solar-powered CCTV towers, monitor your solar farm 24/7, detecting threats instantly.

Physical Perimeter Security – Effective fences, gates and barriers stop unwanted access and signal to criminals that your site is secured.

Drone Surveillance – Drones provide aerial surveillance over large, remote areas, allowing quick identification and tracking of intruders or suspicious activity.

Future-Proof Your Solar Farm Security

With solar power rapidly expanding across the UK, now is the right time to secure your solar farm from potential threats. The best way to protect your investment is to understand the risks clearly, take proactive security measures and partner with experts who know how to properly protect solar assets.

At Triton Security, we specialise in understanding and responding to the challenges solar farms face. Our experienced team will carry out a thorough security assessment of your site, identify vulnerabilities you might not even be aware of and provide a tailored solution designed specifically for your solar farm.