We recently wrote about 5 most compelling reasons to get solar. But what we didn’t mention is that birds are also wise to the benefits of solar. Solar panels make very nice homes for pigeons, doves – anything with wings! The panels themselves provide perfect shelter and a cosy hiding space for nests. And since birds are social animals, they often nest in groups! As nesting birds can quickly take the shine off of your newly installed panels, we see bird-proofing as a sensible prevention tool.
It’s not only the nesting we want to prevent, but if we can deter the birds in the first place then we can also avoid their acidic (think corrosive) and unsightly bird droppings. Whilst your panels are built to last, we always recommend avoiding anything that can slowly damage the panels or cause build up, ultimately affecting their efficiency and performance.
Because we like to solve problems rather than create them, our approach is to always recommend that you bird proof your system at the time of install. However, we don’t make this mandatory as it’s your house, your rules.
When you receive your solar design and quote, you’ll notice an optional extra ‘bird proofing’ – when we discuss your quote with you, you can let us know if you’d like to proceed with it. With the scaffolding already up during the time of installation, it makes sense to bird proof it at the time of installation.
If you do decide to opt out of the bird proofing, it’s worth noting that should you wish to install it later, in the UK, it’s illegal to interrupt or destroy an active bird nest – squatters’ rights!
What does bird proofing look like?
To bird proof a solar system, we attach a metal “fringe” around the outside of all the panels, effectively blocking access. You can usually see it from the ground but it’s fairly discrete and usually blends with the roof tiles and panels.
How much does it cost to bird proof solar panels?
The cost for bird proofing starts at £500 (based on a standard 8 panel system on a sloping roof). The bigger the array, the more bird proofing you’ll need and so the cost increases. The cost can also increase if you have a more ‘complex’ roof. If you decide to install at a later date, you are likely to pay more as whoever you choose will need to cover scaffolding costs in order to do a proper job. We can give you a more accurate price when we visit for an on-site survey.
