“This increase in theft impacts the production of parks”: 500 km of copper cables stolen from a photovoltaic power plant

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In Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil (Gironde), the photovoltaic power plant found itself at the heart of extensive looting. Copper cables, located under the solar panels to connect them together, were methodically cut and stolen this summer by an organized gang. After four months of investigation, the gendarmes arrested six men aged 19 to 45, of Romanian nationality. They were placed in pre-trial detention.

500 km of copper cables stolen in the South-West

In total, these men stole more than 500 km of copper cables in the South-West, in 13 different photovoltaic parks, in Gironde and in five other neighboring departments. Their modus operandi was well established. “The way of operating is identical, namely damage to the fences during nighttime raids allowing entry to isolated sites, in the middle of the forest, quite far from homes,” describes the Bordeaux judicial court.

The damage is estimated at more than one million euros. The merchandise would have already been sold. “Either after their journey, quite quickly, they burn the sheaths to recover the copper and they have a channel almost the next morning to sell the goods. Or they store it somewhere, waiting for a possible person interested to buy this copper,” specifies Captain Dérine Weisgerber, deputy commander of the Lesparre-Médoc gendarmerie company.

“This increase in theft is impacting park production”

Copper thefts motivated once again by greed. Its world price has doubled in five years to reach nearly 13,000 euros per tonne today. Photovoltaic parks have become prime targets. Over hectares, despite the presence of cameras, it is difficult to have 24-hour surveillance of the installations. “The profession is worried. This increase in theft impacts the production of the parks, it penalizes the equipment,” explains Christophe Tomas, vice-president of the solar commission of the Renewable Energies Union.

These thefts have in fact caused long interruptions in the electricity production of the power stations. Since the start of the year, the gendarmes of Nouvelle-Aquitaine have recorded more than 400 copper thefts, a record.