Blueprint launched to secure UK’s renewable energy infrastructure

Produced by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives in partnership with the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership, the detailed guide provides a proportionate and risk-based framework for securing solar farms. As solar energy cements its status as a vital pillar of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure, this partnership helps to ensure that environmental progress is backed by robust security resilience.

The Secured by Design Solar Farm Guide brings together policing, Government and industry expertise to help protect the solar energy infrastructure that powers British businesses, transport networks and homes. With the Government racing to double the UK’s solar capacity to deliver clean power by 2030, safeguarding these multimillion-pound assets from criminal networks is a critical economic and operational priority.

The guide is intended for security professionals, developers, designers, operators, planning authorities and contractors involved in the planning, design, construction and operation of solar farms. It provides practical guidance on proportionate and risk-based security measures to support safe and resilient renewable energy developments.

Preventing theft and criminal damage achieves three critical goals for the industry: ensuring solar infrastructure can consistently deliver clean and cheap power without operational downtime, eliminating huge repair and replacement costs borne by developers following a breach and reassuring local planners and residents alike that new utility-scale installations are safe, secure and responsibly managed.

Collective understanding

Guy Ferguson, CEO of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, commented: “This guidance is the culmination of partnership work at its best. As the UK moves ever closer to reliance on renewable energy, we must as a collective understand that organised crime affects every sector of our crucial infrastructure. To secure the future of everything we rely on, we need to remain focused and support not only the police service, but also those charged with securing these resources. I’m grateful to all of those who’ve contributed to this guidance. I hope it will be of use to developers, local police forces, communities and planning authorities, all of whom have a vital role to play.”

Robin Edwards, project lead for the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership, explained: “As a partnership, we work closely with our various infrastructure partners, the police and other enforcement agencies to tackle the threat the sector faces. We view the new document as a significant step forward in terms of protecting the renewables sector. We would like to thank all those that contributed to the document, which highlights what can be achieved when partners pull together with a shared focus to tackle a specific threat.”

Chris Hewett, CEO of Trade Association Solar Energy UK, stated: “Theft from solar installations – particularly cabling – isn’t a mere inconvenience. It’s an impediment to securing permanently lower bills for us all. I welcome Police Crime Prevention Initiatives’ vital new guidance and recommend that our members play close attention to it when seeking to secure their assets.”

Victoria Kent, head of renewable energy underwriting for Aviva, observed: “We welcome this guide as the industry and police aligned standard for solar farm security to help make sure these assets in our communities are properly protected. We’re pleased to have supported its development, duly contributing to a consistent and robust approach towards safeguarding solar assets.”

Layered approach 

Heather Gurden from Essex Police said: “Essex Police Designing Out Crime Officers are proud to have contributed to this important guidance. Protecting solar farms is vital for safeguarding the national energy supply. We strongly advocate a layered approach towards security alongside targeted investment in protecting high-value assets within these sites.”

Carole Jones, crime prevention team leader at Northamptonshire Police, informed Security Matters: “The guide provides excellent practical advice and guidance and will be used to support those concerned with the development and protection of renewable energy sites in the County of Northamptonshire.”

Kim Burnett from Devon and Cornwall Police explained: “Devon and Cornwall Designing Out Crime Officers are proud to have worked in partnership with policing colleagues across the UK and alongside partners within the renewable energy sector to develop this guidance. The document outlines Best Practice and recommendations to support the resilience of solar energy infrastructure and reduce the opportunities for crime, ensuring the safeguarding of the renewable energy infrastructure locally within Devon and Cornwall as well as nationally.”

*Copies of the 44-page Secured by Design Solar Farm Guide are available online