How ABLOY Critical Infrastructure Padlocks Are Blowing Away Expectations at BP Wind Farms
High security needs at multiple bp Alternative Energy wind farm properties are relying on ABLOY padlocks, including the rugged PL340 series.
At bp's Flat Ridge 1 wind farm in Kansas, ABLOY Critical Infrastructure padlocks are deployed on turbines and on junction boxes. The j-boxes are collection system cabinets where the power cables are joined to the turbine.
The shift to cleaner and renewable sources of energy for the future continues to strengthen and expand at an impressive rate. The growth of wind farms has increased dramatically in the past decade, with many properties erecting dozens or hundreds of large and powerful wind turbines over a sprawling amount of remote acreage.
As a potential target threat to thieves, access to the turbine and the sensitive information it records need to be protected. That’s why bp Alternative Energy turned to ABLOY USA Critical Infrastructure for its high security needs.
As one of the leaders in the clean energy industry, bp Alternative Energy has utilized about 1,200 of ABLOY’s padlocks since 2008 to secure nine of its wind farm properties in four states. A majority of them are the rugged PL340 series padlock with secured exec keyways. Stewart Whitman, the performance manager for bp’s Flat Ridge 1 Wind Farm in Isabel, Kansas, says there were several challenges to finding the right padlock before choosing ABLOY as their critical infrastructure source.
“We were looking for a lock that was extremely secure while performing well under a variety of demanding conditions,” says Whitman. “I would say ABLOY has lived up to those expectations.”
With continuously updated and stricter NERC regulations to deal with, having the right padlock like the patented PL340 is a necessity. According to the U.S. Energy Information Association, wind power capacity has grown 15% per year over the past 10 years and wind has become the largest source of renewable power in the United States. The sector’s job growth continues to increase as well, with industry reports indicating it may employ more than 600,000 workers by 2050 as the demand for sustainable resources rises.
ABLOY PL340 padlocks are sought after for being highly durable. Designed and manufactured to meet ANSI standards, they are constructed from case-hardened boron steel and tested under extreme conditions. The majority of the padlocks at the bp Alternative Energy wind farms have shackle lengths of either one or two inches.
“It’s difficult to find a quality, very secure padlock that are keyed alike, in the numbers we require,” explains Whitman, a 15-year wind industry veteran who has worked for bp Alternative Energy for the past 10 years. “But not all of the padlocks we have are keyed alike.”
At Whitman’s Flat Ridge 1 farm about 80 miles west of Wichita, he has stationed 20 locks on the turbines and two dozen on its j-boxes. The junction boxes are collection system cabinets where the power cables are joined to the turbine.
“In addition to the ABLOY locks on the turbines and j-boxes,” says Whitman, “we have them on the MET [meteorological evaluation towers] access gates and storage connexes. These locks offer exceptional security due to their unique key design. ABLOY now offers a new cyber actuated lock that we are considering buying.”
Whitman’s team and those at the Flat Ridge Wind Farm in Zenda — about 10 miles east — as well as others in Colorado, Indiana and Pennsylvania, exercise diligence with a regular maintenance schedule that includes physically checking the padlocks. ABLOY’s padlocks have a well-earned reputation for reliable performance, and Whitman says he understands why.
“In the five years I’ve managed this farm, we’ve only replaced one lock due to a malfunction. Some of the locks may go over a year without being opened. Others such as the turbine door locks are opened a minimum of every three months.”
He does so for a number of reasons. In addition to most wind farms being located in remote areas, there is the range of weather conditions they are subjected to. The bp Alternative Energy properties experience the entire gamut, from the snow and sub-freezing conditions near the mountains to the hot and dry conditions across the Kansas plains and in Indiana, where more than one-third of the locks are in use.
“We’ve had very little trouble with the ABLOY locks because of environmental conditions,” Whitman says. “My particular site and many of our others operate in farm country so we experience a lot of dust, dirt, snow and ice. The locks have always performed well under all circumstances.”
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Security Is Our Business, Too
For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.
A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.
