Curiosities
Self-consumption photovoltaic installations at Málaga Costa del Sol Airport have gone from being a risk to aviation to becoming a safe energy solution after private companies adopted rigorous technical studies, adjusted the position of the solar panels, and proved that the glare does not compromise landings and takeoffs in one of the most heavily monitored areas in Spain.
For decades, airports avoided solar power for fear of glare. In Málaga, in southern Spain, this problem was tackled with science, planning, and real data. The result became a benchmark for other European airports.
The main concern was never energy generation. The risk lay in reflection. Poorly positioned solar panels can reflect sunlight directly into pilots’ eyes during approach or obstruct visibility to the control tower.
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Therefore, airports have always been sensitive areas. Any new structure must comply with strict air safety regulations. In Spain, these regulations are overseen by Aena, the country’s airport operator.
For a long time, the solution was simple: don’t install solar panels. The sun was seen as an enemy on runways and in areas near aircraft.
Málaga Costa del Sol Airport has become the first in the country to receive self-consumption photovoltaic installations built by private companies within its operational perimeter.
The rental companies Europcar and Goldcar led the project. The execution was handled by the engineering firm Ubora Solar, based in the city itself. The unique aspect was that the initiative did not originate from the airport operator, but from the companies located there.
The main source that revealed the details of the project was the newspaper La Opinión de Málaga.
The challenge was neither financial nor structural. It was visual. Ubora Solar conducted comprehensive glare studies, following standards from the United States Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency.
These studies analyzed actual flight paths, sun hours throughout the year, and the position of the control tower. The tilt and orientation of the panels were calculated with precision.
The data showed that the luminance generated was well below the European limit of 20000 candelas per square meter, according to official EASA parameters. Furthermore, any reflection coincided with the sun itself on the horizon.
This effect is called solar masking. The glare exists, but it is invisible to the human eye because it blends in with natural sunlight. This eliminates operational risk.
Further technical information on glare limits is available on the official website of the European Aviation Safety Agency.
In countries like the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands, solar-powered airports have been operating for years. The difference is that, in Spain, such projects have always depended on Aena itself.
Málaga has set a precedent. It has shown that private companies can invest in self-consumption photovoltaic installations within airports, provided they meet strict technical criteria.
This paves the way for reducing energy costs, cutting carbon emissions, and accelerating the energy transition in locations considered untouchable until recently.
According to data from the International Energy Agency, distributed solar generation grows faster when consumption occurs on-site.
For years, landing at an airport surrounded by solar panels seemed like a nightmare for pilots. In Málaga, it became proof that technology and science can solve age-old fears.
The airport doesn’t receive millions of passengers a year. Now, it also serves as a laboratory for a new energy model in critical areas.
Without compromising safety, Málaga showed that the biggest obstacle to solar energy is not the sun. It’s the lack of research.
If you’re interested in innovation, clean energy, and urban solutions that seem impossible, keep exploring our content and discover how technology is changing places where no one ever imagined it would.
Flavia Marinho is a postgraduate engineer with extensive experience in the onshore and offshore shipbuilding industry. In recent years, she has dedicated herself to writing articles for news websites in the areas of military, security, industry, oil and gas, energy, shipbuilding, geopolitics, jobs, and courses. Contact her at flaviacamil@gmail.com or WhatsApp +55 21 973996379 for corrections, story suggestions, job postings, or advertising proposals on our portal.
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