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.

  • Jan 24, 2013

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

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 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.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.