Non-glaring photovoltaic installations

The possibility of glare from photovoltaic installations that could affect the vision of airline pilots at take-off or landing, could prove extremely hazardous. In the future, though a new software program will calculate when and where white-outs could occur – and how to prevent them.

Consider for instance - a pilot is about to land the plane, when he is suddenly blinded by glaring brightness created by a large-scale photovoltaic installation reflecting the sun. These blinding events create major safety hazards in the vicinity of airports. They also increase the potential for accidents when near highways.

To prevent this, before a photovoltaic installation may be constructed, engineers calculate, for some selected days in the year, when and where the interfering light reflections occur, especially if airports, highways or larger residential areas are close by.

In future, this will be easier and more comprehensive - with software that creates a three-dimensional depiction of the glare at the touch of a button.

The software hgas been developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (FIT) in Sankt Augustin, Germany, together with their colleagues from the State Office for the Environment, Protection of Nature and Geology in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and various solar planners. ''The software creates a 3D view from all sides for any time of the day or time of the year,'' says Alexander Wollert, a scientist at the FIT. ''We recreate the entire scene in a three-dimensional room, with a map, elevation profile, sun, three-dimensional buildings and photovoltaic installations.''

The researchers also simulate the course of the sun and the blinding for each time unit and in any direction. They take into account the elevation of various ground surfaces as well as obstacles, such as trees or noise barrier walls.