The Hidden Threat to Renewable Energy: Counterfeit Components in Solar and Wind
The race towards a greener future and phasing out fossil fuel dependence has opened up a lot of commercial opportunities. But wherever there’s scope for business innovation, you’ll often find a corresponding rise in criminal activity. And the growth of counterfeit components in the renewable energy sector is a threat to safety, sustainability and progress.
What kind of problems do counterfeit components cause?
When imitation or unauthorised parts are passed off as genuine, the risk to businesses and their customers is clear. And in systems where precision and high specifications are a necessity, this is increased significantly. Such components, having not satisfied any quality standards, can cause lower efficiency, shorter lifespans and higher failure rates.
In renewable energy technology environments, this could mean:
- Overheating
- Electrical faults and fires
- Structural collapse
And of course, even without these worst case scenarios, the lack of optimum efficiency means more expensive energy and higher bills.
How big is the problem?
In UK wind farms, reported incidents related to access and egress have more than doubled, while those involving fallen objects have risen by 75 percent. Training and safety practices (particularly for working at height), are having an impact – but fake components can only contribute to, not prevent accidents.
Similarly, according to reports, there were 66 fires involving solar panels during the first half of 2023 in the UK. Comparing that to a figure of just three, throughout all of 2010, it’s clear that the photovoltaic energy market is increasing at pace. But are the safeguards, checks and balances being implemented at the same rate, to eliminate the risk of counterfeit components?
What can be done to combat counterfeits in renewables?
When it comes to fighting back against fakes in solar and wind energy, there are several steps businesses can take, such as:
1) Advanced authentication processes – By opting for the superior security of product authentication measures like Q-ID®, businesses can better verify component origin and authenticity.
2) Clearer transparency in supply chains – Working with reputable suppliers and manufacturers at each stage of the supply chain reduces the risk of counterfeit products entering the market.
3) Closer collaboration – Share best practices and data on counterfeit trends with industry authorities and regulatory bodies, for better detection and prevention.
Want to learn more?
Counterfeit components are a serious – but not insurmountable – threat to the UK’s renewable ambitions. The sector needs robust supply chain management, stringent regulation and the best possible product authentication solutions for components. If you’ve any questions or would like to know more about Q-ID®, please get in touch.
