The following contribution is from another author.
Solar panels are incredibly important for many households nowadays to improve energy efficiency in the home, as well as benefit the environment.
However, as solar panels are on the outside of your home, they are more likely to become damaged over time.
Pigeons are highly attracted to solar panels for shelter, and their presence can severely damage your panels. Nesting and droppings can cause panel hot spots, corrode wiring, block sunlight, and create severe fire hazards.
To resolve the problem, there are a number of steps you can take to lessen the risk of damage to your solar panels now and in the future.
Why Pigeons Love Solar Panels
Pigeons love solar panels because they provide a warm and enclosed space underneath the panels, which offer the ideal hiding spot from both harsh weather and predators.
The elevated structures will give pigeons a secure vantage point to both roost and breed.
How Pigeons Damage Your Solar Panel System
Solar panels, although durable because they have survived and thrived outside, can be subject to damage from animals like pigeons. Here are a few ways in which that damage can be caused.
Reduced efficiency
Nesting debris made by pigeons, to acidic droppings that block sunlight from reaching the photovoltaic cells, will significantly decrease your energy output.
Corroded wiring
Pigeons will scratch at wires, and with their droppings being acidic, both will be enough to go through the cabling. This leads to earth faults and expensive electrical repairs, which can be frustrating to deal with.
Fire hazards
Pigeons will construct what are highly flammable nests made up of twigs and dry debris, right next to high-voltage solar cables.
Roof and gutter damage
Droppings can often strip roof tiles and block your gutters with debris, leading to water overflow. This can often result in serious damage or perhaps replacement.
What to do to Resolve the Problem
If you’re experiencing this problem, then here are some steps you can take to hopefully resolve the issue.
1) Check for active nests
It’s illegal to move or destroy an active bird nest in the UK. This is something you should check, depending on where you live, as it may vary across the globe.
You should wait until the end of the next season and until the chicks have fledged before attempting to clear the space.
2) Clean the area
Once the nest is inactive, it’s worthwhile reaching out to a professional like Cheetah Solar Panel Cleaning and Pigeon Control to remove the debris and wash the panels.
Bird droppings, as mentioned, are highly corrosive, and so the removal/cleaning of the nest needs to be done carefully to avoid permanently scratching or damaging the panel surface.
3) Install pigeon-proofing
The most effective way to stop the pigeons from coming back is to install a physical barrier around the perimeter of the panels.
Look at wire mesh/solar skirts to provide a secure and ventilated mesh barrier around the edges. This physically blocks pigeons from entering without needing to drill or damage the solar panels. Bird spikes are also worthwhile as they are placed on the edge of the roof where birds like to perch.
These tips will hopefully avoid pigeons and other animals from damaging your solar panels this year and in the long-term.
