Thieves are Targeting Cheap Panels, Onselling Them

Archived News, Posted on 25 Jul 2011

LOCK up your solar panels - thieves are stealing them off rooftops.

Thefts from schools, shops and factories have led to fears of an emerging black market in solar energy systems. Truckloads of solar panels have been stolen, mirroring a trend in the US.

On the Gold Coast last week, thieves used a stolen truck and a forklift to steal 300 panels and inverters worth more than $540,000.

In March, 30 federally funded solar panels worth $50,000 were stolen from a Victorian college. The thieves spent six hours extracting the panels.

"There is a big market for cheap panels," a southern Sydney-based solar panel industry insider said.

"The top-end panels are not cheap so people are looking for more affordable ways to acquire good quality energy systems."

Australian Solar Energy Society CEO John Grimes feared thieves could be injured disconnecting live systems.

"I have heard of panels going missing from schools but I don't believe it is a widespread problem like we've seen in some other countries," Mr Grimes said.

"These systems have live wires that can put out as much as 600V depending on the set-up so it is extremely dangerous for people to attempt to steal the panels."

Mr Grimes said homeowners should ensure their panels were covered by their home contents insurance policy.

"Building security is very important. You have to treat your panels like your other property and make sure it is secure," he said. "The panels have a life of 25 years so there is potential for thieves to store them away."

Earlier this month, a US company showcased new technology to protect solar panel systems, using a special fastener with a unique key entry lock.

Other security measures include installing movement detectors near panels, using one-way screws, chaining panels together and engraving panel frames so they can be tracked.

In India, thieves have stolen thousands of panels from the Punjab Energy Development Agency.

While some thieves are cashing in on the renewable energy boom, Mr Grimes said the state's solar industry continued to decline because of the stalled Solar Bonus Scheme.

Several major Sydney solar energy companies have already scaled back their operations as they wait for a decision on a new scheme.