Airport at Schiphol urges destruction of €90 million solar farm in Belgium due to aviation safety concerns
The demolition of a €90 million solar park near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport has raised significant international implications for solar farms located near airports. The Belgian-owned solar farm, operated by the De Groene Energie Corridor (DGEC), has been ordered to dismantle due to concerns about air traffic safety.
The solar park's glare has forced the airport to close its main runway for two hours each sunny day, and there is a potential for daily closures in the future. A subsequent letter from Van Oord on 25 July urged the Ministry of Infrastructure to intervene, warning of potential hundreds of flight cancellations and severe delays from late August due to ongoing glare from the solar park.
Despite consultations between DGEC, the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, and government bodies, a permanent solution to the glare issue remains elusive. The court faulted DGEC for installing light textured glass panels instead of the recommended deeply textured glass panels.
The solar farm, which provides energy for around 40,000 households, was recently considered a potential unicorn in the rapidly growing green energy sector, having raised €125 million. However, this setback may have far-reaching consequences.
The case highlights that reflective glare from solar panels can pose serious flight safety risks, potentially forcing airports or aviation authorities to enforce removal or shutdown of such installations to maintain safe operations. This situation indicates that current international standards and glare modeling for solar farms near airports may require refinement.
Schiphol Airport and the Dutch flight safety regulator (ILT) emphasize that glare blinding pilots is a critical risk, leading to runway closures and increased chances of accidents. This led to regulatory pressure to revoke the solar park’s environmental permit and calls for full dismantling.
The financial and legal repercussions for the solar farm operator are significant. The dispute stresses the need for clear responsibilities and compensation frameworks when airports demand removal for safety reasons. The company faces bankruptcy risks due to forced dismantling without fair compensation.
The case may influence how other countries approach solar installations near airports, prompting stricter glare assessments, new regulations, or retroactive measures globally. It underscores the tension between renewable energy expansion and aviation safety, potentially affecting future permits for solar farms in airport vicinities.
However, it's important to note that similar solar farms near other airports, like Ostend-Bruges Airport in Belgium, have not had safety complaints, suggesting that site-specific factors—such as geography, sun angles, runway orientation, and panel design—play crucial roles in glare risks.
In response to the criticism, DGEC spokesperson Eliza de Waard maintains the company's cooperation and defends their approach, citing extensive research conducted on potential glare prior to construction, based on internationally recognized Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines. DGEC has submitted a new proposal to Schiphol but has yet to receive a response.
[1] Schiphol Airport demands demolition of Belgian solar park due to air traffic safety concerns
[2] Solar farm near Schiphol Airport ordered to dismantle nearly 80,000 panels
[3] Schiphol solar park case: What it means for solar farms near airports
[4] Solar farm near Schiphol Airport ordered to dismantle due to glare concerns
[1] This incident in Netherlands underscores the significance of environmental-science and energy considerations in the industry, as Schiphol Airport demands the demolition of a solar park due to air traffic safety concerns.
[2] Financial implications are imminent, as the solar park, attracting €90 million investment, faces dismantling, necessitating the removal of nearly 80,000 panels.
[3] As countries grapple with the need for sustainable energy solutions, this case serves as a valuable lesson for solar farms located near airports, highlighting the importance of incorporating science to manage glare issues and maintain airport safety.
[4] Amidst increasing air traffic and the growing importance of renewable energy, a solar farm near Schiphol Airport is ordered to dismantle due to glare concerns, emphasizing the delicate balance between expansion and safety.
