Solar Panel Bird Proofing & Deterrents

Bird droppings and seagulls are proving to be a huge problem for solar panel owners in some parts of the UK.  Clean Solar Solutions provide a professional bird protection, proofing and deterrent service for both residential and commercial solar arrays.

We fit a whole range of bird proofing, bird protection and bird deterrents from bird spikes and mesh to the latest in laser deterrent technology for large scale rooftop and ground mounted solar arrays.

The bird proofing is doing the job very well, thank you. The pigeons seem very confused!

Mrs O'Brien

Residential Client, Glasgow

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This picture shows a commercial roof in Rhyl, Wales, which has a seagull dropping problem.  It is typical of any commercial rooftop solar array with a seagull problem.  Cleaning the solar panels frequently may not be the best and most cost-effective long term solution, so fitting bird deterrents may be the best long-term option.

Solar Panel Bird Proofing & Deterrents

Bird Deterrents

Preventing birds from even landing near your solar panels is obviously the best way to stop them ‘dropping’ on your panels.  This is particularly effective on commercial solar arrays.  It is often best to tie the fitting of the bird deterrents in with having the solar panels cleaned at the same time.

We have a wide range of bird deterrent options available to do this including bird netting, bird wire, bird scarers, electric bird deterrents, laser bird deterrents falconry and optical bird gel.  Seagull droppings are a particular problem on coastal solar arrays and we have a number of bird deterrents specifically for seagulls available.

This video shows you some of our bird deterrents in action.

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Solar Panel Bird Proofing & Deterrents

Bird Proofing

On residential solar arrays preventing the birds from visiting the solar panels is more difficult.  Pigeons and other birds will often nest under the solar panels.  In this instance, we offer a bird proofing solution which stops the birds from gaining access under your solar panels.

Birds resting on aerials and creating droppings on the solar panels is also a problem.  We can bird proof your aerial to stop birds from perching there.  After the bird proofing is fitted, it is best to have the solar panels cleanedbring bring the output back up to where it should be.

Solar Panel Bird Proofing & Deterrents

Why is stopping birds from dropping on your solar panels so important?

Bird droppings create what is termed ‘hard shading’ on solar panels.  Hard shading is when a solid object or obstacle is placed over a solar panel, blocking the light in a clear, definable shape.  It is different from ‘soft shading’ which is created from dust build-up, or an overhanging tree branch.

Hard shading is particularly damaging to the output of solar panels because it can cause the current cannot flow through the shaded area efficiently which makes it bunch up and flow through the unshaded part of the cell.  This creates an extreme temperature increase, resulting in the dreaded ‘hotspots’ that are damaging to solar panels.  Hotspots lower the power output of the whole panel.  Partial shading of even one cell on a solar panel will reduce its power output.  The best way to avoid power output drops is to avoid shading whenever possible.  Here is a very useful in-depth article about the effects of hard shading if you would like a more detailed explanation.

This is why in some instances it is important to combine bird deterrents on your solar panels as well as solar panel cleaning.  Clean Solar Solutions have been called in to clean solar panels where bird droppings have caused a whole array to drop its output by over 25%, solely because of seagull droppings.  We have subsequently cleaned the solar panels and restored the output.

Get in Touch

If you would like more information about our bird proofing or bird deterrent solutions for your solar panels, please feel free to contact us.