Will pigeons nest under my solar panels?

Possibly.

While it’s actually quite rare, it does happen and when pigeons do nest under your panels it can be very frustrating, they will not damage the cabling underneath but they could make a mess on top of your panels. There are a few easy and non-invasive options to prevent this from happening.

What can be done to prevent pigeons from nesting under your panels?

There are several things you can do to prevent birds from nesting under your panels.

Fortunately, there are some simple, non-invasive options.

1. Bird mesh or bird netting surrounding the array.

The new bird mesh that we use – black pvc pastic wrapped around a thin steel wire – will look almost invisible from the ground and would provide good protection against birds nesting under your panels.

The cost of bird protection can vary depending on your system size, budget between £600-800 plus the scaffolding cost. If you are having a solar installation, a much more cost effective option is to opt for bird protection whilst the scaffolding has already been paid for.

Bird proofing cost: £600 – 800. (Black mesh).

Scaffolding cost: Varies around the country and the amount of scaffolding required.

Use our solar calculator to calculate the cost of your bird proofing.

2. Bird spikes surrounding your array

Not very humane! But it will stop pigeons from nesting underneath your solar panels.

  • Not very humane
  • Unattractive
3. Pigeon deterrents – recommended options

(source: Pigeon media, https://pigeonpedia.com/how-to-stop-pigeons-nesting-under-solar-panels)

There are a number of different pigeon deterrents available that you could try using on your solar panels.

  • Bird decoys – get a large plastic imitation bird of prey such as a hawk, owl or falcon and fix it to your roof. Make sure it is well secured to prevent it from blowing away. Be aware that the effectiveness of a bird decoy will depend on how realistic it is and how confident your local pigeons are feeling!
  • Electronic pest chasers – These emit high-frequency sounds that the human ear can’t hear but that pigeons hate. Set this up within earshot of your roof and the noise should deter pigeons from roosting there.
  • Pigeon repellent gel – There’s nothing particularly nasty about this gel except that pigeons don’t like the feel of it because it’s sticky and makes them feel trapped, something that they are afraid of. Simply cover your roof with it underneath your panels and it will make pigeons unlikely to roost there. Be aware it will need to be reapplied periodically to remain effective.
4. Keep your garden and driveway clean

Pigeons like to nest nearby a source of food. If they do not have a nearby source of food then they’re much less likely to view your roof as a good place to nest!

Conclusion

If you didn’t have bird proofing fitted during installation and are now considering the costs, why not try one of the simpler deterrents in option 3 such as the Electronic pest chaser and by keeping your garden and driveway clean before opting for the more expensive option which would now require scaffolding.

faq’s about solar panel systems

One for the zoom family quiz!

In 1921, Albert Einstein won his first and only Nobel prize for his work on describing the photoelectric effect.

In a nutshell, light (a beam of particles) knocks off electrons from the solar cell; the solar cells direct these electrons along a current – creating electricity. In theory, solar panels could last forever as there are no moving parts.

 

Find out more

Solar power panel efficiency has increased significantly over the last ten years so you might be surprised at how much electricity even a small roof could generate.

The smallest system we would recommend would be 9 x 380W panels, covering an area of 17 square meters. (4m x 4.25m).

 

How many solar panels do I need?

No. It’s a common myth. Whilst south facing is the most optimum facing position, as a rule of thumb – an identical East or West facing roof would generate 85% as much energy as the south-facing roof.

You may prefer to have an east and west facing roof than the south and north-facing roof as you could fit twice as many electric residential solar panels on the east/west roof than just south facing.

Even a North facing roof will generate approx 55% as much energy as a south-facing roof. For example, a 20 year old 10% efficient south-facing solar panel would generate approximately the same amount of energy as a modern north-facing solar panel.

 

How do solar panels generate electricity

The installation of solar panels on residential buildings are considered permitted development so you do not require planning permission if they comply with the following conditions.

There are necessary limits and conditions which must be complied with to benefit from permitted development rights.

  • Solar panels should not be installed above the highest part of the roof and should not project more than 200mm from the roof slope or wall surface.
  • Installers should not install solar panels on a building that is within the grounds of a listed building or on a site designated as a scheduled monument.
  • If your property is in a conservation area, or a World Heritage Site, you must not install solar panels on a wall that faces a highway.

Feel free to reach out to us to buy solar panels in the UK & switch to a sustainable lifestyle. Give us a call at 01273 286 627 and request for a free design and quote.

 

Planning Portal

The district network operator (DNO) is the company responsible for distributing electricity from the national grid to your home. Installers must inform the DNO of your installation within 28 days after the date of installation. Leoht will handle this for you.

You do not require permission for systems under 16 amps per phase (3.68kW single-phase or 11.04kW three-phase supply). All of the residential solar panel systems that we install fall into this category. System sizes are based on the AC inverter rating rather than the peak DC output of the solar system.

“By following bad advice regarding output limits you could be costing yourself £000’s.”

 

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Not on their own. But it is possible when combined with a time of use tariff and energy storage – depending on the time of use tariff and smart export guarantee rates.

For example, Octopus Go tariff pays 5.5p/kWh for every unit exported and charges 5p/kWh for off-peak use from 00:30 – 04:30. You could install solar panels that generate the equivalent of 100%+ of your electricity consumption and earn 5.5p/kWh for every unit exported to pay for topping up the batteries in the winter at 5p/kWh.

Your bills could even go negative if you can generate more than you use!

Time of use tariffs are why we have smart meters so expect them to become more common in future.

Yes. Solar panels are worth the cost. We believe that solar pv panels systems are an excellent investment for both you and the environment.

Our solar power panels systems cost between £5000 to £9000+ VAT, depending on the size and location of your home. This may seem expensive, but by installing a solar system we aim to reduce your electricity bill by up to 100%. Where else could you earn 9-13% per year tax-free on a low-risk investment, whilst protecting against rising energy prices and helping the environment at the same time.

Our solar panels are durable and come with a 25-30 year warranty. If well maintained, our solar panels can last for more than 30 years. Our solar panels are modern and blend well with any roof. A premium solar panel installation acting as your home’s own energy supply is likely to increase the value of your property.

Solar panels are largely maintenance-free. Over time, however, they may be affected by environmental factors – dead leaves, for example, may block sections of the panel. We recommend that solar panels are checked every few years to ensure maximum efficiency and cleaned once or twice a year.

Solar panels need sunlight to generate energy, so they do not work at night. However, you can install a battery to store excess electricity generation during the day to then be used later at night.

Negative electricity bills

Generating more energy than you use could turn your electricity bills negative.

The marginal cost of adding panels to a 4 kW solar system is negligible, you may as well use the space available and go larger.

Find out how much you could save with solar

Our cost and savings calculator can help you find the right solar specification for you and how much you could save!

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