Introduction: Bird Deterrence – An “Invisible Essential” in PV Plant O&M

Bird activity has long been a persistent challenge in PV power plant operations and maintenance. Bird droppings on module surfaces create shading that can cause hot spots, reducing module lifespan, decreasing power output, and even creating fire hazards. Nesting beneath modules can obstruct ventilation, corrode wiring, and seriously compromise plant safety.

In early 2024, the global PV bird deterrent technology field saw multiple innovations – from brush‑type deterrents in Italy to plastic skirt solutions in the Netherlands, from motor‑free repellents in Spain to patented inventions by Chinese companies, from simple grassroots innovations in domestic power plants to AI research in U.S. laboratories. A diverse range of technological approaches is providing PV power plants with more effective, economical, and environmentally friendly solutions for bird deterrence.

Part One: Physical Barriers – Brush‑Type Deterrents and Plastic Skirts

1.1 Italgam Evo 2.0: Brush‑Type Bird Deterrent

In September 2024, Italian startup Italgam Srl launched its new PV bird deterrent product, Evo 2.0. The solution uses brushes installed between the back of PV modules and the roof to physically prevent birds from accessing the space beneath the modules.

Key product parameters:

The product‘s inspiration came from a sink cleaning brush the founder saw in British Columbia, Canada. After receiving inquiries from PV installers about preventing pigeons from nesting under modules, Italgam developed and patented the solution.

Market reception: Italgam CEO Maurizio Chiacchierini revealed that more than 1,300 solar companies are already using Evo brushes in their installations, with bird deterrent business now accounting for about 90% of the company’s production. He noted that bird droppings can reduce module efficiency by up to 30%, while dried organic matter accumulating beneath modules can lead to overheating and short circuits, creating fire risks.

1.2 BirdBlocker BB85: Plastic Skirt Design

In July 2024, Dutch company BirdBlocker unveiled its latest iteration, the BirdBlocker BB85, at the Intersolar Europe 2024 exhibition, with market launch planned for September 2024.

Key product features:

Previously, BirdBlocker‘s 200 mm product required extensive cutting and material waste when installed on metal, corrugated and trapezoidal roofs. The new version solves this pain point and is expected to open up the commercial and industrial PV market.

Commercial value: Adding BirdBlocker to residential projects typically adds “a few hundred euros” to installation costs. Retrofit installations are usually more expensive, requiring installers to return, remove and re‑install modules.

Complementary product: BirdBlocker also launched the CableFixPro cable clip series, made from NS‑coated stainless steel spring wire, requiring no tools for installation. Compatible with traditional and cassette‑frame solar panels, it comes with a 10‑year warranty. The product aims to address cable management challenges arising from changing PV module frame designs – of 113 module brands measured by the company in 2023, 63% had cassette‑frame designs on the short side.

Part Two: Innovative Deterrent Technologies – Motor‑Free, Adjustable, Multi‑Modal

2.1 Shuifa Integrated Energy: Adjustable Wire Deterrent Device

In early 2024, Shandong Shuifa Integrated Energy Company launched an R&D project to address bird activity issues at PV power plants. Sun Guiqi, station manager at the Linqu site, led the team through multiple trials to develop a simple, economical and effective solution.

Technical solution:

Adjustable brackets are installed at the ends of the two long sides at the top of PV module clusters, with steel wire connected between them. The wire floats approximately 12 cm above the module surface – slightly lower than the normal height of common bird species. This design prevents birds from standing vertically on the modules, and the thin wire does not provide a comfortable long‑term perch, fundamentally deterring birds from lingering in the module area.

Advantages:

Simple to implement, low cost

Excellent bird deterrence effect

Gradually being rolled out across Shuifa Integrated Energy‘s power plants

Patent application filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration

The solution is cited as a classic case of “big results from small investments”, demonstrating the value of grassroots innovation.

2.2 Three Gorges Energy: Bird Deterrent Device Patent (July 2024)

On 16 July 2024, Three Gorges Energy (600905) was granted a utility model patent for a “Bird deterrent device” (Patent Application No. CN202322878489.X).

Patent technical solution:

The bird deterrent device is specifically designed for PV modules and includes:

Sliding assembly: a slide rod and a slide member that can move along the length of the slide rod

Fixing assembly: arranged on at least one side of the PV module

Vibrator: installed at the bottom of the slide rod, driving the slide rod to vibrate

Flashing pinwheel: installed on the slide member

Technical features: The sliding assembly, vibrator and flashing pinwheel work together to deter birds, avoiding the risk of injury to personnel, expanding the coverage area and improving deterrence effectiveness.

R&D background: Since the beginning of the year, Three Gorges Energy has been granted 143 new patents, a year‑on‑year increase of 180.39%. In 2023, the company invested RMB 17.23 million in R&D, up 20.27% year‑on‑year.

2.3 Prosolarbirds: Motor‑Free Bird Deterrent (February 2024)

In February 2024, Prosolarbirds, a company based in Barcelona, Spain, launched an innovative bird deterrent device. The core highlight of the product is that it requires no motor – it is activated by light winds, rotating to prevent birds from landing on PV panels without harming them.

Product features:

The company has more than ten years of experience in manufacturing bird deterrent devices and is committed to balancing renewable energy generation with natural habitat protection.

Part Three: Large‑Scale Plant Practice – AI Cameras Combined with Deterrent Technology

3.1 Argonne National Laboratory, USA: AI Camera Study on Bird‑PV Interaction

In October 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy‘s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) released innovative research from Argonne National Laboratory. The team developed an artificial intelligence‑driven camera system that continuously monitors bird behaviour around PV panels and uses machine learning algorithms to automatically classify it.

Research data:

Funding: US$1.3 million (R&D phase)

Recorded footage: Over 17,000 hours of video

Identification accuracy: Up to 95%

Behaviour categories: 6 types – flying over panels, flying past panels, perching on panels, colliding with panels, perching in background, landing on ground

Key finding: Across all 17,000 hours of video, the cameras detected no bird‑panel collisions. However, researchers observed birds foraging, nesting and perching beneath the panels, indicating that PV panels may serve as habitat for birds.

Next steps: The Argonne team received an additional US$2.1 million in funding to deploy camera systems across seven solar facilities in the United States (covering forested areas in the Northeast, semi‑industrial areas in the Southwest, urban areas in the Midwest, and rural farmland), to build a more comprehensive picture of bird‑PV facility interactions.

Part Four: Early 2024 PV Bird Deterrent Technology Trend Summary

Outlook

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, PV bird deterrent technology will continue to develop in the following directions:

Proliferation of physical barriers: Brush‑type and plastic skirt solutions, with their direct effectiveness and minimal maintenance requirements, will be more widely adopted in rooftop distributed PV

Intelligent upgrades: AI‑based recognition combined with targeted repellent technologies will move from the laboratory to commercial applications

Deepening eco‑friendliness: Bird‑friendly deterrent technologies that do not harm birds will become the mainstream choice

Multi‑modal integration: Combining vibration, flashing light, sound, scent and other repellent methods will improve deterrence effectiveness

Continuous cost optimisation: Low‑cost grassroots innovations such as Shuifa‘s wire device will drive wider adoption of bird deterrent technologies

In a Nutshell

In 2024 – from Italgam’s brush‑type deterrent in Italy to BirdBlocker‘s plastic skirt design in the Netherlands, from Shuifa Integrated Energy’s adjustable wire device to Three Gorges Energy‘s vibration‑and‑flashing patent, from Prosolarbirds’ motor‑free repellent in Spain to Argonne‘s AI camera research in the U.S. – PV bird deterrent technology is advancing on three fronts: physical barriers, intelligent repellents, and eco‑friendly solutions, safeguarding the safe and efficient operation of PV power plants.