Dutch court orders dismantling of solar panels that blind pilots
This is the view of the solar park from the cockpit, behind which you can see the runway of Schiphol Airport (photo - NH).

A court in Harlem, the Netherlands, has ordered the owner of a large solar power plant near Schiphol Airport to remove more than a third of the panels, glare from which blinds pilots during the landing. About reported is a regional broadcaster of NH.

The court has ruled that De Groene Energie Corridor (DGEC), the owner of a solar power plant next to the A9 highway, must dismantle more than 78,000 solar panels in the coming months.

If the company fails to do so in time, it will have to pay €1 million to Schiphol Airport. The fine may increase to EUR 25 million if the company does not take action.

The DGEC, Schiphol Airport, and Dutch airline KLM agree that the glare from the solar panels has a negative impact on safety. The dispute between the parties primarily concerns who should pay for the dismantling. The cost of the work is estimated at more than €10 million.

At the same time, Schiphol and KLM want to dismantle all the solar panels. According to the airport, the solar panels create such a bright light that pilots are blinded. Two weeks ago, a pilot told the court how he had to fly the plane with one hand to protect his eyes from the reflected sunlight.

Therefore, the airport and KLM filed a lawsuit for summary judgment so that the court could make a quick decision. According to the court's decision, DGEC must ensure that the solar panels are dismantled as soon as possible. Who will ultimately receive the bill will be determined later.

The court's decision means that a large part of the solar panels will remain in place. According to the airport, this does not solve the problem. Schiphol believes that the other two fields also create glare, and therefore require the complete dismantling of the solar park.

Earlier this week, the Dutch Environmental and Transport Inspectorate issued a similar statement.