How to keep birds off my panels?

GreenBo

My top row are covered in bird***t. Which no doubt means they're not producing to their optimum, and going into our so call peak summer (HA!!!!) I really want them working at full capacity for those fleeting moments that the sun comes out to say hello.

This must be a common problem. How have others tackled this problem? My fat cat can't be persuaded onto the roof :rotfl:

The_Green_Hornet

You could try a robotic peregrine falcon

http://www.bristol-culture.com/2013/02/27/brian-the-robotic-peregrine-falcon/

GreenBo

Oh I don't know.... I reckon some of the seaguls around here would eat that for breakfast

I think I'm going to have to find some of those stick on little spikes, not very nice looking but hopefully it'll stop 20 odd birds perching on the top edge of the panels and having a conference every night. The top quarter of my top 2 panels looks like a toilet at Glastonbury :rotfl:

ed110220

The other thing that's done to stop birds perching is to stretch a thin wire above the thing you're trying to stop them perching on. Often see it on windowsills and things like that in town. Might look better and cast less shade than a forest of little spikes. I guess it has to be a little higher than the birds legs.

Ed

silverwhistle

GreenBo wrote: »

My top row are covered in bird***t. Which no doubt means they're not producing to their optimum, and going into our so call peak summer..

It's an interesting issue.:D I had a similar problem due to a convenient television aerial and a family of wood pigeons.. At the end of last summer I had a wood burner installed and asked the fitters to remove the aerial whilst they were up there putting down the chimney liner. Generation is obviously lower over the autumn and winter so any improvement was not significant, but my recent reading was queried as they thought it too high: I had to confirm with a photo!

So any experts out there with any knowledge about the impact of guano on solar panels?? :-)

theboylard

Borrow neighbours' target air rifle, couple of pings near the flying rats and they haven't been back all day!

Just got to climb a ladder over the weekend and get the nest out from underneath the panels.

Been nice taget shooting in the garden though, might have to get myslef a cheap playtoy and occasional birdscarer

GreenBo

I think I'll opt for the strategically placed fishing line across the top edge of the top panels. Thanks for the suggestions. :beer:

Lei_Chat

I bought some "Narrow Plastic Pigeon Spikes / Anti Bird Spikes Repellent" from Ebay for the top of our roof, not sure how easy they'd be to fit to your solar panels though.

Happy0643

So where does liability sit if one of the 'Big 6' installed and own your solar panels - i get the electricity they get the Feed in Tariff over 25 years.

The pigeon infestation was not expected but i understand it is becoming an increasing problem - any thoughts as there is nothing that seems to cover this in the Terms and Conditions?

Doc_N

Happy0643 wrote: »

So where does liability sit if one of the 'Big 6' installed and own your solar panels - i get the electricity they get the Feed in Tariff over 25 years.

The pigeon infestation was not expected but i understand it is becoming an increasing problem - any thoughts as there is nothing that seems to cover this in the Terms and Conditions?

As posted in another thread:


Not a problem here, and the panels have been in place for 6 years. We have a lot of pigeons too, but there are easier places, probably, for them to nest. Are you perhaps in an urban or semi-urban area with fewer trees?

As to the legal position, it's going to depend entirely on the wording of the contract. SSE is a responsible company, though, and as you could certainly mount an argument that they should reasonably have foreseen the problem, I imagine that they will deal with it for you - if only to protect their panels.

[Deleted User]

As per my other thread I wondered about this as we have had seagulls looking to nest but they are currently failing as they are too big. I googled the issue of birds and solar panels and there are lots of companies who can bird proof the solar panels by putting wire mesh round to stop birds getting under. It is pricey though. 2 quotes so far between £550 - £850 so I'll leave that.

I have found another option of using gutter brushes stuffed under but of course we'd still need to access the roof.

As for birds mess, there are companies who clean it off if a good ole garden hose and/or heavy rain fails. I have no idea what this would cost but some adverts reckon on increasing your returns by another 10% once it's gleaming clean again.