meteocontrol integrates theft protection in PV monitoring system

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meteocontrol has formed a collaboration alliance with viamon GmbH, a manufacturer of GPS-based theft protection for PV modules and inverters. The integration of the anti-theft feature in meteocontrol’s VCOM virtual control room monitoring system provides operators of PV systems and PV power plants with an efficient solution for remote monitoring and theft protection in one portal.

Both new and existing solar energy systems can be equipped with the intelligent anti-theft solution from viamon. The GPS-based system is integrated directly in the PV module or inverter so that it is not visible from the outside, but it reacts to jolts, movement and changes in position. An alarm is triggered immediately in cases of theft – this message is sent via e-mail, SMS, smartphone app, telephone or VdS protocol.

Complete information on one platform

The collaboration alliance has enabled meteocontrol to integrate viamon status display technology in the VCOM virtual control room monitoring system. "We are delighted to be the first PV service provider to realize the interface to viamon anti-theft technology," says Martin Schneider, Managing Director of meteocontrol. "This solution gives PV system operators all the key information they need on one platform and thus reduces the complexity of overall system operations." The complete status is visible in the so-called "viamon widget."

The integration of the anti-theft solution is also user-friendly: Within the meteocontrol portal operators simply enter the API key generated by viamon for the specified system to gain immediate access to the tool. In cases of theft, details such as GPS coordinates are constantly displayed in the app or the viamon portal. These systems were optimized for this purpose, whereas the VCOM basically focuses on the system status.

Integration minimizes operating costs

"The integration in the meteocontrol portal provides our customers with significant value added," says Oliver Strecke, CEO of viamon, "because the display of the overall status helps reduce the operating costs in terms of security." In most cases the anti-theft solution leads to lower insurance premiums and reduces the cost of investment in classic security solutions. The joint solution from both alliance partners is also ready for international deployment: viamon theft protection is fully functional worldwide and the VCOM virtual control room has been designed to meet international requirements. Both alliance partners have already won their first customer for the joint solution: BayWa r. e. renewable energy GmbH is now using the new system with great success in a major solar energy park in Great Britain.

http://www.meteocontrol.com/en/