At the time, it simply made sense to do so.
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest, sits next to a solar park converting unused space into clean energy. Solar parks like this are seen as positive developments by officials seeking to reduce the environmental impact of air travel.
However, soon after the solar panels became operational, an unanticipated event occurred.
Pilots nearing the runway reported seeing brief streaks of light in the distance.
Initially, it seemed minor – but was it?
The solar park at Schiphol Airport – A promising concept with unintended consequences
Schiphol’s solar installation can produce enough electricity to power an enormous number of houses located near it.
Like many modern solar systems, its array covers a tremendous amount of space.
At all times during this process, every aspect seemed routine. Setup had finished, and electricity generation started running smoothly without issues.
Then reports continued to come in steadily.
Pilots experienced short, intense flashes of light during descent approaching certain runways.
They happened at the exact worst moments.
Visibility is most important when pilots are making their final approaches to landing.
So when a pilot experiences a flash of light while focused on the runway ahead, where do you think they would be looking? What could have initially been thought insignificant eventually became much harder to overlook over time.
A small problem becomes a growing concern
Airport officials soon recognized how serious the situation was.
There was a clear and consistent pattern to the timing of the flashes.
They usually occurred when the sun was at certain angles.
Due to the frequency of occurrences, one of Schiphol’s primary runways was shut down temporarily during those times. Flights were rerouted, and maintaining regular service became increasingly difficult.
Despite closing that runway and diverting flights, the situation still didn’t fully resolve itself.
Based on this, authorities realized this clearly wasn’t a random occurrence.
They also knew they had to determine exactly why this was happening.
Additional details on the case were reported by Aviation 24, highlighting the safety concerns raised during the investigation.
Eventually, investigators found out why the flashes occurred – but it wasn’t what they anticipated
For some time, investigators were unable to determine why the flashes were happening.
The possible causes included natural environmental issues and potential mechanical failures.
With more information on the timing of each flash, it was determined that they were linked to daylight conditions.
This indicated that the root cause of the glare wasn’t mechanical, but something related to how the system interacted with its surroundings. Knowing this provided investigators with valuable insight to further narrow the investigation.
What specifically caused the glare and prompted their eventual removal
Light reflected off the surface of the panels caused the glare.
Depending on the angle, sunlight would reflect off the panels and into the pilot’s line of sight. This produced strong glare that caused temporary loss of visibility.
Since the solar panels were placed below designated flight routes, glare was inevitable when conditions aligned perfectly.
Even though visibility was lost for only seconds, that time is simply too great a risk during landing.
Various measures attempted to reduce the glare (including shutting down runways) ultimately failed. As a result, a Dutch court ordered approximately 78,000 panels removed due to glare concerns.
Though not defective, the panels were placed incorrectly and combined with how sunlight interacted with their surfaces.
The renewable energy project, originally considered positive, ultimately proved unexpectedly hazardous.
If well-intentioned solutions like renewable energy can create hazards, what other positive ideas may require closer review?
Disclaimer: Our coverage of events affecting companies is purely informative and descriptive. Under no circumstances does it seek to promote an opinion or create a trend, nor can it be taken as investment advice or a recommendation of any kind.