By Levy Acs, president of American Integrated Security Group (AISG)

Stretching over an expansive range, large-scale solar generation sites can be challenging and expensive to secure if not done properly. Security at solar farms not only involves the ability to safeguard critical infrastructure from outside threats, but they also help deter copper theft, protect personnel and limit disruption of power for huge numbers of consumers. Security being a major concern, it is essential in the planning stage of solar site development to enlist the services of an experienced security systems integrator to handle the security side of the project. A five-year veteran of securing solar generations sites, American Integrated Security Group has worked with a large range of clients.

Much of AISG’s success comes from understanding the market and developing great relationships as a partner, serving the needs of solar contractors, project developers, EPCs, owner/operators and utilities. Employing the latest network electronic technology coupled with unique integrated packaged devices, AISG, based in College Point, New York, delivers the most cost effective systems available for 24/7 coverage. AISG solutions meet or exceed NERC security requirements.

Currently more than 30 U.S. solar facilities are protected with field-proven security from AISG, nearing 5 GW of secured solar projects. AISG uses the energy of solar itself to power the turnkey security system that incorporates perimeter security, video surveillance, access control and remote monitoring capabilities. Being under 24-hour surveillance ensures complete control of the entire site at all times. The case studies below offer insight into the type of services AISG provides.

Case Study 1

Client: Signal Energy

Site: Garland Solar Generating Facility in Mojave, California

Summary: A large-scale project requiring 22 self-contained solar-powered pole stations to cover 102,000 ft of fence, AISG installed video, access control, perimeter protection and remote monitoring at the site. Both communication and power are provided by AISG at the edge, eliminating trenching or the need for third parties to complete.

System Design: Located on approximately 2,000 acres in Kern County, California, the facility consists of more than 800,000 polycrystalline PV modules. Access is controlled at the site via an Aiphone IP video intercom and locked gates at multiple points of site ingress/egress. High resolution IP video surveillance utilizes Davantis video analytics and Wavestore video storage and management, integrated with environmental FLIR thermal and AXIS Communications day/night infrared IP cameras installed throughout the facility on solar powered poles with industrial network switches and wireless adapters for complete perimeter coverage. In addition, AISG is using strobe/sirens at each pole to pin-point and guide the authorities upon events.

Case Study 2

Client: Signal Energy

Site: Tranquility Solar Generating Facility in Fresno, California

Summary: Signal Energy enlisted AISG to install video, access control, perimeter protection and remote monitoring at the 3,800-acre site. The site consists of a large solar array, and two substations directly adjacent to a utility switching station. Outdoor storage for road maintenance materials, non-operational equipment and maintenance vehicles is located adjacent to the facility and within the project footprint.

System Design: The site is secured by approximately 95,000 ft of 8-ft-tall chain link perimeter fencing through which access is controlled via an Aiphone IP video intercom and locked gates at multiple points of site ingress/egress. High resolution IP video surveillance utilizes Davantis video analytics and a Wavestore video server integrated with environmental FLIR thermal and AXIS communication day/night infrared IP cameras installed throughout the facility on solar powered poles with industrial network switches and wireless adapters for complete perimeter coverage. In addition, AISG is using strobe/sirens at each pole to pin-point and guide the authorities upon events. AISG is also providing interactive remote video monitoring.

Case Study 3

Client: McCarthy Building Companies

Site: Roserock Solar Facility in Pecos County, Texas

Summary: AISG is contracted by McCarthy Building Companies to provide long range detection and wide area surveillance. The Roserock facility requires 12 self-contained solar-powered pole stations to cover over 100,000 ft of fence. AISG installs a seamless and comprehensive security platform including video surveillance, access control, perimeter protection and remote monitoring to insure uninterrupted power production. Both communication and power are provided by AISG at the edge.

System Design: The solar facility is on 1,300 acres and consists of approximately 700,000 PV modules around which access is controlled at the site via an Aiphone IP video intercom and locked gates at multiple points of site ingress/egress. A high resolution IP video surveillance system for complete perimeter coverage uses Avigilon to integrate and manage Davantis video analytics and Wavesore VMS with environmental FLIR thermal and AXIS Communications day/night infrared IP cameras. The fully equipped solar powered poles utilize industrial network switches and wireless adapters. In addition, AISG is providing strobe/sirens at each pole to pinpoint and guide authorities upon events.

Case Study 4

Client: NRG Energy

Site: California Valley Solar Ranch in San Luis Obispo, California

Summary: NRG Energy contracted AISG to deploy a powerful solution at California Valley Solar Ranch including analytics, video storage and management, thermal surveillance cameras, access control and intercom, perimeter alarms and 24/7 surveillance monitoring from AISG’s College Point, New York, central station.

System Design: Encompassing a footprint of some 1,500 acres, 11 self-contained solar-powered pole stations and a Fiber Sensys fiber optics system is installed on the 19 miles of fence at the California Valley Solar Ranch. Access at the gates is controlled with Kantech access control and Aiphone IP intercom. The video portion of the platform uses Davantis video analytics technology, FLIR thermal cameras and a Wavestore server integrated and programmed to alarm at the AISG central monitoring station.

Completely Off the Grid and Self Sufficient

The contractors featured in these case studies choose AISG for its experienced security know-how. At every AISG-secured solar site, all AISG engineers and designers are well versed in the various federal and state regulations that accompany solar energy projects. Clients have stated that the AISG-provided analytics are great for speeding up searches of recorded video, the entire system ensures an integrated outdoor solution to enable better monitoring of vulnerable areas and they love the reliability of thermal imaging cameras. Video access to their sites drastically reduces operational costs and the need for round-the-clock security guards.

Altogether, AISG covers perimeters spanning thousands of acres and hundreds of thousands of linear feet with as little hardware and infrastructure as possible. Completely off the grid, the systems installed by AISG create a seamless and comprehensive security platform, guaranteeing uninterrupted power production. Designed for real-time threat detection and tracking while simultaneously providing a high degree of situational awareness, AISG provides improved performance over traditional perimeter security with extended long-range detection and wide-area day/night surveillance.