DNA to protect energy stations in Sweden

DNA-based anticounterfeiting technology company Applied DNA Sciences has announced that its evidentiary smartDNA platform has been adopted by Vattenfall Eldistribution AB to protect copper assets located in energy stations throughout Sweden. This will be implemented by the end of December 2012.

Vattenfall accounts for 50% of Sweden’s electricity, with over 900,000 customers. It is the nation’s largest regional and local service provider. Leif Svensson, CEO of the Sweden consulting group Safe Solution AB, stated, “Vattenfall Eldistribution AB is Sweden's largest supplier of electricity and we are pleased to announce their adoption of APDN technology to protect its copper assets from theft. Like the cash in transit program by Nokas, the deployment in Vattenfall’s electrical infrastructure can identify stolen copper and the thieves who are responsible.”

The forensic precision and robustness of the smartDNA platform has been proven to help with linking criminals to crimes in Sweden. The purpose of this application for copper is a natural extension of the program that has been officially recognised by the Swedish National Police and enforced by all police forces throughout Sweden, who have been fully trained on the smartDNA system.

In the United States, it is estimated that more than 95% of energy utilities experienced copper theft in the past 12 months, with over 50,000 incidences nationwide. Nearly 8000 of these thefts took place for energised copper, resulting in an estimated 35 fatalities. The FBI considers copper theft a threat to national security.

Applied DNA Sciences’ botanical-DNA-based security and authentication solutions can help protect products, brands and intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. The anticounterfeiting and product authentication solutions essentially cannot be copied, provide a forensic chain of evidence and can be used to prosecute perpetrators.