Bloombridge  
 
HENLEY  SOLAR  FARM  
 
GLINT  AND  GLARE  STATEMENT  
 
Prepared  by  Andrew  Bower,  Bloombridge  Renewables  
 
Solar  PV  cells  are  designed  to  absorb  light  NOT  reflect  it.    
Glint  is  a  momentary  flash  of  light  whilst  glare  is  a  more  continuous  source  of  excessive  
brightness  relative  to  the  ambient  lighting.  
Reflected  light  results  in  the  loss  of  energy  output;  given  the  purpose  of  the  site  is  to  create  
energy  not  waste  it,  it  is  very  much  in  the  operator's  interest  to  ensure  that  as  much  light  is  
absorbed  as  possible.  Modules  are  dark  in  colour  and  have  special  coatings  to  assist  in  this  
process  and  increase  production.    
The  reflectance  levels  from  PV  panels  are  considerably  lower  than  the  glare  and  reflectance  
from  standard  glass  products  such  as  house  windows.  
Solar  PV  panels  have  been  installed  in  the  UK  on  or  adjoining  airports  at  Southend,  London  
City  (where  they  adjoin  the  runway  and  charge  the  runway  lights)  and  Newquay,  with  a  
further  site  underway  at  Bournemouth  Airport.    Internationally  there  are  PV  farms  at  the  
airports  of  San  Francisco,  Oakland,  Denver,  Munich,  Zurich,  Changi,  Boston  and  Stuttgart.  
A  study  by  the  Federal  Aviation  Administration  in  the  US  reported  that  “evidence  suggests  
that  either  significant  glare  is  not  occurring  during  times  of  operation  or  if  glare  is  occurring,  
it  is  not  a  negative  effect  and  a  minor  is  part  of  the  landscape  to  which  pilots  and  tower  
personnel  are  exposed”.  
Reflection  from  water,  glass  buildings  and  car  parks  is  more  significant  than  from  similar  
areas  of  solar  PV.    The  chart  below  shows  the  relative  reflectivity  of  different  surfaces:  

The  simple  fact  that  there  are  PV  systems  on  and  around  many  airports  provides  further  
post  hoc  evidence  that  solar  PV  does  not  present  a  glare  risk.    The  14MW  PV  array  on  the  
flight  path  into  the  Nellis  US  Airforce  base  in  Nevada  was  subjected  to  detailed  glare  analysis  
and  the  conclusion  was  that  the  worst  possible  case  there  was  a  slight  potential  for  an  “after  
image  or  flash  glare”  which  was  similar  to  the  risk  from  reflections  from  water  and  less  than  
that  from  snow  or  white  concrete.    

Bloombridge  LLP  Registered  in  England  and  Wales.      Partnership  No.  OC349331  
  
 Bloombridge  
 
A  large  solar  array  has  been  constructed  at  the  German  Formula  One  Grand  Prix  circuit  at  
Hockenheim,  next  to  the  high  speed  straight.  This  site  has  been  authorised  by  the  German  
Motorsorts  Federation  and  the  world  wide  governing  body,  the  FIA,  as  a  circuit  safe  for  all  
forms  of  motorsport,  thus    setting  aside  the  grounds  for  concerns  about  glint  and  glare  for  
motorists.  
 
Site  Specifics  
At  this  site  there  are  no  houses  or  offices  that  are  near  to  the  site  that  would  be  able  to  see  
the  South  facing  panel  fronts.    
 
There   are   no   occupied   places   within   any   azimuths   of   possible   radiance   that   could   be  
affected.  
 
The   panels   would   face   south   onto   hedges   or   woodland   that   border   the   site   (or   hedges   with  
oak  standards  that  would  be  planted  as  part  of  the  project).  Given  the  site  has  a  dark  aspect  
and  there  is  an  existing  backdrop  of  the  old  railway  line  that  sites  on  an  embankment  that  is  
taller   than   the   solar   panels   and   has   a   substantial   width   belt   of   mature   and   semi   mature  
trees  lining  it,  it  is  felt  that  this  proposal  would  be  extremely  hard  to  see  from  a  distance  and  
(aside   from   the   natural   screening   already   present)   from   any   possible   reflection   on   the  
panels  by  natural  light.  

Bloombridge  LLP  Registered  in  England  and  Wales.      Partnership  No.  OC349331