Rampant solar panel theft in Chile drives up the costs of renewable energy projects
As Chile's share of solar power rises from 2015% in 3 to one-third now, organized theft of solar farms has surged, posing a new threat to project costs. Criminals usually operate at night, climbing fences, damaging cameras, cutting cables, and stealing panels in batches.
A manager managing more than 60 campuses said that since March 2025, there have been over 3 thefts, with each site having been robbed five times in a month. Of the stolen equipment, cables accounted for 30.85% and panels for 7.54%. Each panel weighs about 8 kilograms and is valued at $30-60. Chile's unique geography increases vulnerability: Sunparks are mostly located in remote deserts, with only one or two unarmed security guards and borders close to Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. Stolen equipment is easily smuggled out, with about half entering international markets. Rising copper prices have also fueled cable theft. The repair cost far exceeds the value of the stolen goods-stealing a $70 cable costs $1-30 to replace. Insurance companies have raised rates and tightened terms. Some companies have begun replacing copper cables with aluminum cables to reduce temptation.
The industry is calling on the government to take action to prevent the problem from escalating into systemic risk. However, investors have not yet withdrawn their investments, but risk assessments have already taken it into account.
