Netherlands-based BirdBlocker has added three new lines to its range of bird protection products for solar installations, including a new cable management brand. All three new additions were on display at the Intersolar exhibition at the Smarter E Europe, Munich.
CableFixPro is a new clip range that BirdBlocker said can be installed without tools and is compatible with traditional and box-frame solar panels. Each clip is made from NS-coated stainless steel spring wire, can hold two 6 – 8 mm cables, boasts a 10-year warranty and is sold in retail quantities of 100 clips per package and wholesale quantities of 50 packages per box. CableFixPro clips are compatible with the entire BirdBlocker range and are compliant with European IEC standards and British Standards for safety and performance.
Paul van der Ven, co-owner of BirdBlocker, said that solar panel manufacturers have started favoring box-design frames on the short side of their panels, meaning existing cable clips that clamp to an edge have become incompatible – creating an opportunity in the market. “Our catalogue of measured frames from 2023 shows that 63% of the frames have a box-design on the short side,” said van der Ven, adding that the company measured solar modules from 113 brands in 2023.
“We created a system with three varieties of clips that results in a cable management system that is on the one hand universally compatible with all panel frame designs, on the other hand it is also compatible with BirdBlocker bird proofing systems,” he told pv magazine.
BirdBlocker also previewed the newest iteration of its bird-proofing solution at Intersolar – BirdBlocker BB85. Designed to prevent birds from nesting under solar modules, BirdBlocker is a plastic skirt which is installed around PV modules. With the launch of BirdBlocker BB85, scheduled for September 2024, the brand will introduce an 85 mm high redesigned variant that improves compatibility with metal, corrugated , and trapezoidal rooftops, steel decks, and low-mount systems. Each variant in the BirdBlocker range is made from black UV-resistant recyclable HDPE plastic, which the company also claims is cold and heat resistant.
Popular content
On pricing, BirdBlocker said that cost is largely dependent on the layout of the installation, however the company said that should an installer include BirdBlocker with a residential installation it would likely add “a few hundred euros” onto the cost to consumers. Retrofitting is normally more expensive for consumers as it requires a return visit from an installer, who will need to remove and re-install panels.
BirdBlocker has also made an aesthetic change to its clip range with the launch of box-design clips in black. Measuring 30 mm in height and 14-18 mm in width, the clips are designed to securely fit the BirdBlocker system.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.