Perimeter Security for Photovoltaic Roofing Systems

Since the adoption of the Kyoto protocol and the growing consciousness of “renewable energies”, more European countries are beginning to provide public incentives on photovoltaic systems. During the past few years, solar applications in Italy have seen a dramatic increase in sales and usage. Since the construction of one of the largest photovoltaic roofing systems in Italy, perimeter security of the area became a large concern.

At the Interporto of Padova, an industrial area in the eastern part of Padova, one of largest photovoltaic roofs in Italy has been constructed. The roofing system has 12.3 million Watts of capacity, installed over 18 hangars and 7 parking lot roofs. After being completed in Dec. 2010, the roof produces enough energy for 4,000 families and saves 8,000 tons of CO2 emission each year. Solon S.p.A., the Italian manufacturer of solar panels and photovoltaics systems completed the site with 49,000 crystalline silicon solar cells, 7,500 amorphous silicon modules, and 49 invertors for Interporto Solare S.r.l.

After the photovoltaic roof was completed, it was obvious that the area would demand a highly reliable system of protection from theft and vandalism. CIAS anti-intrusion products were selected as first-rate choice. CIAS Elettronica is a whole Italian company nationally and internationally renowned as technological leader in outdoor perimeter protection solutions: microwave, infrared and double/triple technology barriers, dopplers and fence sensor system.

The microwave barrier CORAL was the choice for Interporto di Padova solar roof application. 98 CORALs were installed in an anti-climbing way in order to fit the plant’s protection requirements.With range of 100 and 200m, it has been conceived for quick and easy installation, yet maintaining a quality level significantly above the average, for complete protection.

CORAL incorporates an audio-visual set-up system which simplifies the alignment and set up of the barrier. A “walk-test” function was also included, which identifies the real dimensions of the protection field with mathematical alignment precision. With the instrument incorporated inside the receiver head, the walk test and all the other functions are used to have an optimal alignment, which reducing the probability of generating improper alarms.

In this solar roof application CIAS barriers are managed by the Honeywell control panel GALAXY, and are remotely controlled by means of a supervision system that constantly checks the status of electricity production and the CIAS anti-intrusion system at the same time.

Featured

  • Making the Grade with Locks and Door Hardware

    Managing and maintaining locks and door hardware across a school district or university campus is a big responsibility. A building’s security needs to change over time as occupancy and use demands evolve, which can make it even more challenging. Knowing the basics of common door hardware, including locks, panic devices and door closers, can make a difference in daily operations and emergency situations. Read Now

  • Choosing the Right Solution

    Today, there is a strong shift from on-prem installations to cloud or hybrid-cloud deployments. As reported in the 2024 Genetec State of Physical Security report, 66% of end users said they will move to managing or storing more physical security in the cloud over the next two years. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Security Risks for U.S. Retail Chains

    Interface Systems, a provider of security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has released its 2024 State of Remote Video Monitoring in Retail Chains report. The detailed study analyzed over 2 million monitoring requests across 4,156 retail locations in the United States from September 2023 to August 2024. Read Now

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame. 3

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction. 3

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3