What effect do birds have on solar panel arrays? The answer is… not much, but the effects that they can have are concerning. If you’re serious about reducing your carbon footprint, you may want to look into ways of maintaining or even improving your panels’ effectiveness without having to worry about potential bird deaths. There are several ways that birds can negatively affect a solar installation, and many of these impacts are invisible after the fact. Birds peck and scratch at the array frames and cause corrosion. They also deposit their excrement on the surface of the panels, which can be an ideal breeding ground for parasites and other bugs. When these impacts are combined with high winds or other climatic conditions that might increase the number of birds who frequent a specific area, it’s possible for a Solar Power Brisbane system to be adversely affected by wildlife more frequently than it otherwise would be.
How to Manage a Bird Deterioration in Your Solar Installation
There are several steps that any homeowner can take to manage the impacts of birds on their system. The first is to make sure that they’re handling the bird issues correctly from the beginning. One of the first signs that a bird problem is widespread is a rash of bird feces on the array. This is usually caused by the Capercuilla bird, which is a small blackbird with a beak that can cause deep puncture wounds if it so much as nibbles at your panels. Determine the species of bird that is causing the problem, as well as the best ways to remove it. While some species can be trained out of a flock, many others will remain constant members of the flock. If possible, identify the breed of the birds so that you can better manage their access to your system.
The truth about the litter
While it’s easy to shame homeowners who choose to let their birds poop on their solar panels that generates Solar Power Brisbane, there are plenty of situations where this happens inadvertently. If you have a small dog that you’re allowed to keep on your property, you may have a small problem on your hands. The small bone fragments and dirt that your pet deposits in your panels are likely to enter your energy system. If, however, your pet is a rabbit, you may end up with a significant accumulation of guck in your system. This may take the form of a white slime that coats your equipment and walls and can be inhaled by your panels. If this is the case, you need to clean your panels yearly, or else your panels will continue to produce electricity even though you know they’re full of guck.
Barriers to Controlling Bird Activities
Many bird problems are simply a result of poor design. Major barriers to bird control include the desire of homeowners to get their birds involved in the pollination process, as well as the desire of birds to nest in places that are too close to power lines. Wasting electricity when there’s a massive pile of guck in your panels isn’t a great look for a homeowner. This is one of the biggest barriers to bird control, so the question is whether it can be overcome. One way to go about this is to provide homeowners with some competition. If there are areas where you know there’s a high risk of bird conflicts, cover them with Reflectix or install bird-friendly fence panels. This way, you’ll still be able to enjoy the view but provide some protection to your birds as well.
Weather and Wildlife Damage
Stronger winds can easily throw over an array, and high-intensity winds can cause damage to solar panels that are often difficult to detect once the panels are up and running. Strong winds can also strip paint from home, leaving it vulnerable to the elements. This is particularly harmful to solar panels, as homeowners who have questions about the condition of their panels should be looking into this more closely. Wind buffeting a solar array can also cause erosion, which can be a big problem in areas where the ground is sandy.
Conclusion
Birds are an important part of the ecosystem and can also be part of the problem. By understanding how birds can affect your system and how birds can be controlled, you can better manage the impacts of birds on your system. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, you may wish to consider ways of maintaining or improving your panels’ effectiveness without having to worry about potential bird deaths.
There are several ways that birds can negatively affect a solar installation, and many of these impacts are invisible after the fact. Birds peck and scratch at the array frames and cause corrosion. They also deposit their excrement on the surface of the panels, which can be an ideal breeding ground for parasites and other bugs. When these impacts are combined with high winds or other climatic conditions that might increase the number of birds who frequent a specific area, it’s possible for a solar panel system to be adversely affected by wildlife more frequently than it otherwise would be.
