As much as we love our feathered friends and other local wildlife, they can become an inconvenience if you have a solar panel system.

The space under solar panels is prime property for animals looking for a safe haven – and if homeowners aren’t careful, they could end up with a set of nuisance neighbours who are difficult to remove.

In this article, we’ll explore what you can do to safeguard your solar panel investment from unwanted visitors – whether they’re pigeons, squirrels, or other animals.

At Sunsave, we fit pigeon proofing to all of our systems, as standard. To find out how much a solar & battery system with bird protection could save you in the long run, enter a few details below and we'll provide an estimate.

What is solar panel pigeon proofing?

Solar panel pigeon proofing is a physical barrier that wraps around the edges of your solar panel system.

It blocks the gap between the panels and your roof, which is around 13cm, though it can vary from 10cm to 15cm.

This stops pigeons from going underneath your panels, building nests, and causing problems that can lead to permanent damage and reduced output.

These birds enjoy making their homes under solar panels because it’s a warm, enclosed, sturdy spot that provides shelter from the elements and predators.

In other words, it’s everything a pigeon could want from a nest, particularly in winter.

Pigeon proofing comes in multiple different forms, as we’ll explore below, and is best installed at the same time as your panels – or else you'll have to pay for scaffolding again.

Problems caused by pigeons under solar panels

Pigeons nesting under solar panels can cause chaos, messing up everything from system output to the surrounding structures. In some cases, the damage can end up being an expensive headache.

There are many examples of pigeons causing significant damage to solar panel arrays, like in 2022, when Nottingham City Council fitted thousands of panels to local homes without pigeon proofing.

After more than 300 complaints about blocked gutters, damaged tiles, and leaking roofs, the council went back and fitted mesh around all affected panels.

When pigeons nest under solar panels, they cause six main issues:

1. Reduced output
2. Panel corrosion
3. Damage to the wiring
4. Noise
5. Rooftop mess
6. Attract other pests

Let's look at each of these issues in more detail.

1. Reduced output

Your solar panels’ output is everything. It determines how much money you can save on your energy bills – and pigeons can cut it significantly.

Once pigeons have nested beneath your panels, they’ll start to poo on top of them, which can massively reduce how much light can get through.

Researchers at the Vellore Institute of Technology in India found as much when they compared bird poo’s effect on solar panels with coal dust and five types of soil.

The scientists wrote: “Bird droppings were shown to have the greatest influence on PV panel efficiency because of their tendency to stick to the panel surface due to moisture content”.

Placing 10 grams of bird poo on a panel lowered its efficiency by 31.25%, while 50 grams caused an enormous 86.53% loss.

And the effect can be long-term. In its report on the pigeon problem in Nottingham, BBC News states: “The build-up of droppings on solar panels can also reduce their efficiency by up to 30% over their lifetime.”

Bird poo can also increase your solar panels' electrical resistance, causing hotspots. 

These can melt or burn the solar cells, damage electrical parts, and cause cracks in the glass – all of which can permanently damage your system. In this way, bird poo has the same effect as unavoidable shading.

2. Panel corrosion

Pigeon urine, which gets excreted at the same time as poo, can corrode your panels.

It contains uric acid, which can wear away the anti-reflective coating and reduce your system's efficiency.

If you have pigeons actively nesting under your panels, you should clean your system regularly to try to avoid this.

For more information, read our guide to solar panel cleaning.

3. Damage to the wiring

Nesting birds have a habit of pecking at wiring and other components essential to the functionality of the solar panels, causing damage and reducing their output.

There are a few theories why birds do this: maybe they mistake wires for nest materials or food, or simply use them to keep their ever-growing beaks in check.

What’s certain is that it's self-defeating. Birds love the warmth provided by panels, but they don't know that mindlessly breaking some wires could stop this plentiful supply of heat.

4. Noise

If you've ever had the pleasure of being rudely awakened by pigeons at the crack of dawn, you'll understand just how disturbing their noises can be.

Pigeons' calls are generally quiet, but if you sleep directly under your roof, they can still wake you up – particularly if they’re mating.

Unfortunately, pigeons breed year-round in the UK, meaning it’s not just a seasonal problem.

Throw in the inevitable sounds of nest-building on the roof above you, and you have a bothersome situation.

5. Rooftop mess

Pigeons, like so many animals, are a sloppy bunch. The accumulation of nesting materials and the aforementioned excrement can create an unsightly mess on rooftops.

Regular cleaning is a must, otherwise you'll end up with clogged gutters and drains.

They can also damage your roof tiles, partly through their unfortunate custom of dropping stones on it from a height as they go about building their nests.

And if you already have a broken roof tile, they may peck at it to damage it further, so they can gain entry to your home.

Speaking of which, their droppings and nesting materials can carry diseases and parasites like mites, which can be bad for your health if they get inside.

6. Attract other pests

A pigeon’s cosy nest can attract other pests like squirrels, rats, mice, and insects who want in on the action.

These fellow trespassers can exacerbate damages to both panels and the structure of the building.

Squirrels and other rodents, for example, instinctively chew through panels’ wiring to control the length of their four front teeth – which like pigeon beaks, never stop growing.

And as mentioned above, birds often carry mites that can infest your home.

How much does solar panel pigeon proofing cost?

Compared to the overall cost of installing a solar & battery system, pigeon proofing is relatively inexpensive, at roughly £50 per panel.

As you can see, if you were to get a 3-4kWp solar panel system (which is approximately the right size for a three-bedroom property), you’d spend about £350-£450 on pigeon proofing.

Mesh and spikes cost roughly the same (more info below), but skirts tend to be more expensive. This is due to their aesthetic appeal, even though mesh and spikes are very hard to see from the ground.

However, these costs only apply when you get pigeon protection at the same time as your solar installation – if you add protection later on, you’ll have to pay for scaffolding all over again.

This could add hundreds or even thousands of pounds to the cost of adding pigeon proofing, depending on how complex your scaffolding is.

At Sunsave, we fit pigeon proofing to all of our systems, as standard. To find out how much a solar & battery system with pigeon proofing could save you in the long run, enter a few details below and we'll provide an estimate.

The best types of solar panel pigeon proofing

There are three effective ways of keeping pigeons out, which we’ll dive into.

Note: this doesn’t include reflective tape or fake predators, as they may work for a short while but aren’t long-term solutions.

We’ve also left out high-frequency deterrents, as they have no scientific basis. Humans can hear higher frequencies than most birds, including pigeons, making these devices completely useless.

Solar panel mesh

This mesh tends to be made from galvanised stainless steel wire, covered in a protective PVC coating, and it’ll usually come in a large, 30-metre roll that your installer will unravel on each side of your solar panel array.

At 15-20cm high, it should comfortably cover the gap. They’ll then use a series of clips and cable ties to secure the mesh to your panels.

Your installer will then remove any excess mesh, and probably cut some small gaps for your rails to poke through, without leaving anywhere near enough space for a pigeon to get in.

Solar panel spikes

Solar panel spikes slot into a strip of plastic that your installer will secure to the side of your panels with the help of plastic clips.

These straight lengths of stainless steel with a plastic base come in grey, black, or see-through. They’re around 13cm long, though they can be quickly cut to length.

They come as individual or double spikes, though they aren’t actually that pointy. The idea is to form a barrier, rather than to threaten or endanger pigeons with sharp barbs.

Solar panel skirts

These sleek, black skirts cover the gap between your panels and roof at a roughly 45° angle.

Your installer will clamp these 1.2-metre strips of aluminium to the edges of your panels, and they’ll rest on your roof.

Their 16cm width should cover the gap in a stylish, subtle fashion – though considering spikes and mesh aren’t generally visible from the ground either, this may not matter.

The skirts are also coated in a matt black powder that makes them more durable, weatherproof, and UV-resistant.

How long does pigeon proofing last?

Any pigeon protection – whether it’s mesh, spikes, or skirts – should last as long as your solar panels.

It just needs to be fitted properly, by an accredited installer.

So once it’s protecting your panels, you’ll be able to rest easy, safe in the knowledge that pigeons shouldn’t be able to ever nest under your panels.

Can you remove pigeons from under your solar panels?

If you’re in England, feral pigeons and their nests can be removed from your property if they’re causing safety issues, slips and falls, or the spread of diseases to humans.

By living under your panels, they could qualify as a public health hazard – particularly if they’re creating a significant build-up of droppings – or a safety issue if their nests pose a fire risk or they start pecking at your wires.

This is all due to GL41, the government’s ‘general licence to kill or take certain species of wild birds to preserve public health or public safety’, which became law in 2021.

As the owner or occupier of the land, you can either do the removing yourself or get someone else to do it, as long as you can argue effectively that they pose a risk. Simply finding them a nuisance isn’t enough.

You don't need to register anywhere to use the licence, though you should make a written record of your actions as soon as you can afterwards.

If you choose to kill the pigeons, you should write down why you made this decision, why non-lethal force would’ve been impractical, ineffective, or disproportionate, and why you didn’t get pigeon proofing instead.

You must also ensure you kill birds in a “quick and humane manner”, meaning it should be “carried out in a single, swift action.”

Wales similarly allows owners and occupiers to remove or kill birds under General Licence 002, Scotland permits it under GL03/2025, and Northern Ireland authorises it with TPG1 – though not on Sundays or at night.

You should always check with your local authority before removing a nest though, to ensure you’re not violating the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which carries an unlimited fine or six months in prison.

And if you’re considering using a lethal approach, consult a professional pest controller who can make sure you stay on the right side of the law, or ask the experts at wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk.

It's always safer to get a professional to carry out this duty, seeing as any roof work can be dangerous.

Can you add pigeon proofing later on?

You can add pigeon proofing to your system at a later date, but it’s not a good idea financially.

You’d have to pay for scaffolding all over again, which could cost you thousands of pounds, completely unnecessarily.

Instead, you can get pigeon proofing installed with your solar panel system, while you already have scaffolding up, and be protected from flying menaces from day one.

What other birds nest under solar panels?

Birds including jackdaws, sparrows, and starlings are also attracted to the shelter, warmth, and superior nesting spot that solar panels provide.

Just like pigeons, these avian nuisances can cause damage by pecking wires, breaking roof tiles, and leaving their waste everywhere.

This can make your system less efficient and result in permanent, expensive damage.

Fortunately, high-quality pigeon proofing like mesh or spikes should also keep out these birds.

Next steps

Pigeon proofing your solar panels gives you the best chance of maximising your energy bill savings.

These birds can significantly cut your solar output, which is a good enough reason to take action – but they could also corrode your panels, break wires, ruin your roof, and attract other pests.

And if you protect your system from day one, you won’t have to spend thousands of pounds on repairs, replacements, or pigeon proofing your panels at another time.

At Sunsave, we fit pigeon proofing to all of our systems, as standard. To find out how much a solar & battery system with pigeon proofing could save you in the long run, enter a few details below and we'll provide an estimate.

Solar panel pigeon proofing: FAQs