As electricity prices have risen, so has the demand for solar panel installations, which not only save money but often generate profit. However, this has attracted thieves interested in photovoltaic parks. In recent years, there have been numerous cases of theft from solar parks, causing delays and unforeseen costs. Just to mention a few cases and arrests made by the Civil Guard, last year more than 1,000 solar panels with an estimated value of €300,000 were stolen in the town of Cuenca. In Lleida, also last year, the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) opened an investigation into thefts of €200,000 worth of panel batteries and installation tools. These are not isolated cases; there have been repeated arrests for the theft of solar panels from photovoltaic installations throughout the country. These criminal gangs often use violence and intimidation to carry out the thefts.

Risks Associated with the Profitability of a Photovoltaic Project and Park:
Solar energy projects can be exposed to a series of financial risks that must be analyzed and evaluated in detail to guarantee their long-term success and profitability. In addition to market risks, such as electricity price volatility and regulatory and tax changes, there are technological and operational risks related to the ability to respond to and provide electrical service in the isolated or remote locations where the parks are situated. External conditions in these areas can generate up to 400 false alarms daily due to various factors. This significant drawback creates security gaps in the system, as real alarms are sometimes mistaken for operational failures.
Furthermore, unforeseen outages and costs during the construction, operation, and maintenance phases represent financial risks that impact the project's profitability throughout its lifespan. Effective risk management is essential to ensure the project's viability and attract investors.
In this regard, periods of inactivity can generate significant economic losses: closing a park for a single day can cost several thousand euros. The installation cost of a solar plant typically ranges between €0.80 and €0.91 per watt, meaning that a 1 MW plant would cost between €801,000 and €909,000.

The Importance of Security for Project Profitability:
Project security is a key factor that is gaining prominence in risk assessments for energy projects. The increase in thefts of solar panels, cables, fuel, and other stockpiled materials necessitates the implementation of innovative and effective solutions that guarantee security and a rapid response in case of outages or alarms, thus minimizing risks and losses. Faced with these challenges, the use of advanced monitoring systems is crucial. They allow for the rapid identification and response to intruders, preventing potential downtime and ensuring compliance with renewable energy auction requirements. Furthermore, the theft of solar panels can disrupt the supply of the necessary amount of energy and expose operators to financial penalties. Therefore, the effective management and protection of photovoltaic plants are essential to guarantee operational continuity and compliance with auction obligations.
“Our experience shows that investing in advanced monitoring systems based on Artificial Intelligence can reduce incident response times to less than a minute and distinguish false alarms caused by animals or adverse weather conditions, thereby minimizing the economic losses associated with downtime. By quickly detecting and analyzing threats, we can significantly improve the safety and operational efficiency of solar farms,” says Begoña Franco, Energy Client Manager at BauWatch Spain.

Using AI, these systems can not only detect theft and damage, but also analyze incident patterns based on historical data.
BauWatch's mobile video surveillance towers are in demand across various sectors, but "the BauWatch Solar tower is the most sought-after in the energy sector," says Begoña. It's an environmentally friendly, completely self-sufficient solution with the fastest intrusion response time on the market. "In less than a minute, our Alarm Receiving Center will contact the intruder to order them to vacate the area protected by the tower. With this direct message, we neutralize 95% of intrusions; more than 30,000 neutralized intrusions validate our deterrent system," she adds.
Ultimately, preventing disruptions and costly damage not only protects the interests of solar farm owners, but also contributes to the stability and efficiency of the entire energy system.