A Belgian-based company is set to dismantle thousands of its solar panels amid reports of pilots being blinded when landing in Amsterdam. The airport’s CEO is pushing for more action.
The issue was flagged by Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport earlier this year, following complaints regarding the glare from the nearby solar park, De Groene Energie Corridor (DGEC).
The DGEC has almost 230,000 solar panels located under the path that is followed by aircrafts approaching two of Schiphol's runways. The company behind it is Limburg-based Energy Solutions Group (ESG).
On 16 July, a Dutch court ruled in favour of Schiphol’s concerns and ordered DGEC to dismantle over 78,000 solar panels from two of its four fields.
However, Schiphol CEO Pieter van Oord argued that the “unacceptable safety risks” will persist due to the remaining panels. This could cause runways to be temporarily closed.
'Passengers will be hit hard'
“Due to capacity restrictions, hundreds of flights may have to be cancelled and/or experience long delays,” van Oord wrote in a letter to the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure on 25 July.
The impacts are set to have a “knock-on effect” on other flights. “Airlines, supply chain partners and passengers will be hit hard,” he added, underscoring that the flights towards the end of August are likely to be significantly impacted due to the position of the sun.
In his letter, the CEO “urgently” appealed for the Ministry to intervene and ensure that the rest of the solar panels are dismantled.
Passengers at Schiphol airport. Credit: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Speaking to The Brussels Times, a spokesperson for the Ministry, Richard Funnekotter, stated that the Ministry shares the “urgency” felt by the airport to prevent further impacts.
However, he emphasised that the Ministry has a “limited“ scope for action in this “complex” situation. “The [Haarlemmermeer] municipality is the competent authority for the permit granted,” explained Funnekotter.
Passengers inside Schiphol airport. Credit: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
In a letter published on 9 July, the Haarlemmermeer municipal executive committee outlined the procedure for granting DGEC’s permit, including its reliance on expert information.
Within the letter, the municipal executive body added that it found potential gaps in existing legislation and asked for the national government to take more responsibility in the matter.
“We do not have the authority, expertise, or policy to properly assess the effects of solar parks on flight safety. We therefore expect the national government to take responsibility for resolving the gaps in the legislation,” the letter reads.
'Fair compensation offered'
For its part, the DGEC “fully agrees” that flight safety must be “top priority”; however, it believes that fair compensation is needed. Over the last year, around €90 million were invested in the park.
“Since the start of the discussions, DGEC has indicated its willingness to cooperate in finding a solution, including the (partial) removal of the solar park, provided that fair compensation is offered to safeguard the park’s continued operation,” said DGEC spokesperson, Eliza de Waard.
According to de Waard, “extensive research” into potential glare effects was carried out before the DGEC's investment based on internationally recognised guidelines by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Throughout the permitting process, DGEC consulted all relevant stakeholders. Positive expert opinions were issued, including by the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR),” de Waard said, adding that the procedure to obtain the permit was “meticulously” followed and aligns with Dutch and international standards.
People waiting for their flight at Schiphol. Credit: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
The DGEC has recently submitted another proposal to Schiphol aimed at eliminating any potential impact from glare on air traffic, according to de Waard.
“Schiphol has not yet provided a formal response. Nor has any formal commitment been received from the relevant public authorities, who also played a role in creating the current situation,” she added.
The Dutch Inspectorate for Environment and Transport, ILT, has submitted an enforcement request for the Haarlemmermeer municipality to further address the situation, according to Funnekotter. “The ILT is requesting enforcement action to prevent the solar panel park from creating a dangerous situation again.”
The Brussels Times contacted the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer for comment, but has yet to receive a response as of the time of publication.
