The Netherlands’ Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is introducing a temporary framework that will tighten rules around new permit applications for solar parks near airports.
In a letter addressed to Dutch parliament, Vincent Karremans, Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management, explains that there are currently no specific regulations in the Netherlands regarding aviation safety in relation to solar park installations near airports.
He added that the framework will provide authorities and involved parties with “guidelines to help them make informed decisions within their respective areas of responsibility.”
The move follows an incident in March 2025 that forced Schiphol’s Polderbaan runway to be unavailable to landing traffic for two hours due to glare from solar panels. The incident prompted Dutch authorities to order the removal of around 78,000 nearby panels and saw the project owners replace all the remaining panels.
Following the event, the ministry asked consultancy firm Arcadis to develop a framework with conditions and criteria for which solar parks can be deployed near airports.
Arcadis’ report determined that while its important to utilize the area around airports for solar parks, aviation parties and the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) must be given a clear role in validating flight safety aspects of a solar park design.
“The temporary framework outlines when and how aviation stakeholders and the ILT aviation authority can be involved in the development of solar farms near airports,” Karremans’ letter explains. “The temporary framework will be relevant for new permit applications for solar parks.”
In instances where permit applications are already underway but no permit has yet been granted, the relevant authorities can decide whether or not to enter into consultation to modify the design of the planned park.
Karremans added that the framework must be applicable to both Schiphol, the Netherland’s leading airport, and others in the country. Meanwhile, follow up research will be conducted by the Netherlands Aerospace Centre to determine what can be defined as a safe distance for solar from an airport runway.
The framework is being introduced only temporarily as the European Aviation Safety Agency is preparing regulations covering glare from solar panels near airports, which Karremans’ letter says is due after 2029.
Dutch PV association Holland Solar responded to Karremans’ letter with concern over the decision to impose stricter rules on all future solar projects around airports. It said before rules that could impact the development of renewables are introduced, it is important to first determine whether those rules are actually necessary.
“Based on one known incident in which pilots actually experienced glare from solar panels around Schiphol, stricter rules will be introduced for all future solar parks around Dutch airports,” the association’s statement says. “There is a lack of convincing substantiation as to why solar panels might soon have to meet stricter reflection requirements than other surfaces, such as water or greenhouse horticulture.”
Holland Solar said it is advocating for additional independent research into the effectiveness of both the existing international guidelines and the proposed stricter assessment framework before new national standards are introduced.
“Safety naturally always comes first. But if you want to introduce stricter national rules based on one known situation, it must be clear why that is necessary,” added the association’s director, Wijnand van Hooff. “We do not see sufficient justification for this in the report.”
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