The birds nesting under the solar panels can cause an array of issues other than just the fouling mess they cause.
Bird droppings can build up when they fly over or perch on the solar panels – a single large deposit will shade the cells to such an extent that it can reduce a module’s efficiency by 30%, which will have a knock-on effect on the overall efficiency of the whole system output, costing you money.
The corrosive effects of the bird mess should also not be overlooked; if the Pigeons under solar panels have been residents for some time, then there will be a large amount of fouling built up on and/or under the panels.
Without the correct Ammonia and Salt Water test certificates, any droppings on the frame will compromise the aluminium, leading to a dramatically increased rate of corrosion, which can damage the solar panels permanently.
In order to address this a new kind of service industry is emerging which is ‘Pigeon Proofing’ your solar panels. Opkill is one such company based out of UK.
The Bird proofing system includes a combination of mesh and clips which are easy to install, requiring no drilling which will not compromise the integrity of the solar panel system. The bird proofing materials used for solar panels can vary, however it is normally a 19 gauge, 25mm x 12.5mm galvanised mesh.
The installation will use UV stable poly-carbonate clips which are designed to fit on the inside lip of the panel without scratching the surface. The clips are fitted two to each corner and then at 500mm points in between.
A new industry is born to address the issues of another new segment namely renewables.
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