What Squirrels, Birds, and Moss Are Doing to Solar Panels in Britain 

While the solar panel brochure covers some of the more important aspects of these panels (such as the amount of electricity they produce, how long until they begin to pay for themselves, their warranties, and their environmental credentials), one thing that it generally does not discuss is how the British natural environment can impact those panels.

While many may see Britain as a land of green and pleasant landscapes, it is also home to a variety of animals such as squirrels and pigeons. The cavity between a solar panel and the roof where it is installed is an attractive location for a squirrel to build its nest. The only way for a squirrel to gain entry into the panel is to chew through the electrical wires of the solar panel. Squirrels do not care about the purpose of those electrical wires and will damage the solar panels in order to gain access to their attractive nesting locations. These damaged solar panels are expensive to repair and often are not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty for the panels.

While pigeons may be less destructive to the panels as a whole, they do deposit their waste on these panels for extended periods of time. This can lead to a deterioration in the performance of these panels over time. Also, because pigeons deposit their droppings on panels for extended periods of time, the panels’ ability to retain moisture is also negatively impacted by these pigeons. For Dorset Solar Panels, visit https://solarpanelsdorset.co.uk/solar-panels

Moss grows anywhere with moisture and shade. The answer to these problems lies in mesh guards for the squirrels and birds, cleaning of the moss, and annual inspections of the bridge itself to catch any problems before they become more serious.