Do you NEED bird proofing on your solar panels?
As solar panel installers, one of the main questions we get asked when fitting panels is ‘Do I really need to add bird proofing to them?’
And we get why people ask it. It does slightly push the price up on what’s already a fairly hefty investment.
But in the long run, that extra little on top will help get the most out of your investment.
You see, solar panels provide our homes with clean and sustainable energy. We know this.
However for birds and their young, the cosy, protected cover under the edge of solar panels acts as a perfect spot to set up camp and nest.
Now this may not seem like the biggest issue in the world. I mean if we’re helping the planet with solar, and also providing homes for animals – what’s the issue?
Well unfortunately, whilst it would be great to help the birds out, letting them nest under solar panels can cause a whole range of issues
1.Damage to the panels
When birds nest under the panels, they can cause significant damage in various ways. The debris from the nest can get caught up in the wiring underneath, potentially causing disconnection and permanent damage. Not to mention it’s common for birds to chew through the actual wiring whilst they’re under there.
Birds living around the panels also means the chance of them leaving droppings on the panels goes right up. Droppings left on the panels can end up baked into the panels from the sun’s heat. This can also permanently damage the face of the panel, reducing the amount of power it can generate.
2.Reduced Efficiency
Your solar panels run on daylight, and so anything getting in the way of that will greatly reduce their efficiency. Birds are fairly mucky animals, and so when they nest around the panels, chances are there’ll be a lot of nesting debris and a LOT of droppings on them. This blocks out the sunlight, meaning you’ll generate less solar energy to power your home
This may seem minor, but over time, the reduced output, and therefore your missed out savings will add up. This will extend your Return on Investment time and is easily preventable.
3.Increased Maintenance
Now we’d recommend regular maintenance on your panels anyway. Whether it’s a performance check or getting the panels cleaned, it’s essential for ensuring longevity. But constant bird droppings and mess means you’ll need your panels cleaned more often than most. And that frequent maintenance will be costly and reverse some of the energy bill savings that solar panels bring.
So unfortunately for the avian species, if we want to keep our panels running at maximal efficiency, we need to keep them from nesting under them.
The easiest way to keep these pesky birds away, is by fitting a tailor made bird barrier around the edge of a solar array.
As solar panel installers ourselves, at JD Allen Solar we fit a custom bird barrier with all of our installations.
These bird barriers typically come in 3 different styles:
1.Galvanised Bird Mesh
The Galvanised Bird Mesh is a popular bird barrier that’s both affordable, and versatile to a whole host of different solar arrays.
The flexible mesh won’t set you back all too much money, and so is one of the more common bird barriers you’ll see. However, debris often gets trapped in the mesh, requiring occasional maintenance.
2. BB200 Bird Blocker
This bird barrier is a more specialist type. Designed specifically for solar panels, the BB200 prevents birds from being able to get under solar panels with its robust design.
It is slightly pricier than the mesh, however its effectiveness certainly justifies it.
3.SolaSkirt
By far our favourite bird barrier is the Solaskirt. This seamless design completely blocks the barrier under the panels, whilst still allowing for ventilation to them.
The aesthetic look of these barriers attracts many of our customers to them. They are a premium option, and come with a higher price tag, but the effectiveness and clean looking finish makes it well worth while.
Read more about the different types of bird proofing here.
So do you need bird proofing on your solar panels? Well technically – no. They can still power your home without them.
HOWEVER, if you want to maximise your electricity generation and financial savings, as well as shorten your ROI – then yes, bird proofing is essential.
By simply installing a bird barrier around the edge of your solar panels, you’ll be able to keep birds away, and keep your panels performing at maximal output for longer.
That seems well worth the small investment if you ask us.
As MCS, RECC and NAPIT accredited installers in South East England, we fit nearly ALL of our customers with specialist bird barriers to maximise their ROI.
If you want to explore adding bird proofing to your solar array,
Enquire below and protect your panels today!
