News item | 21-08-2025 | 09:00
After intensive consultation, Schiphol, solar park operator De Groene Energie Corridor (DGEC), the municipality of Haarlemmermeer and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management made agreements about a solution for the solar panels that have been installed near Schiphol.
The solar panels cause a unique and strong problem: the reflection of these panels ensures a security risk for pilots who want to land on certain runways of the airport at a certain position of the sun.
The removal of the solar panels has already started. Now the parties have agreed to provide all panels with a foil that prevents the reflection. All panels must be dismantled for this and later replaced. The aim is to have completed all this in September 2026.
The expectation is that from 28 August 2025 there will again be nuisance from pilots who want to land on the Zwanenburgbaan. Although the dismantling process has already started, unfortunately it is not possible to remove all panels before that date. To guarantee flight safety, Schiphol announces that the Zwanenburgbaan will be less available for country traffic from 28 August in sunny weather conditions. In principle, this measure lasts until September 29, or until the panels have been removed.
Removing, adjusting and re -installing the solar panels entails costs. Not intervening now, would make those costs even bigger. All parties involved make a financial contribution. Because the agreed solution serves various public interests, Minister Robert Tieman (Infrastructure and Water Management) has promised to pay 6.84 million euros to the municipality of Haarlemmermeer. The Haarlemmermeer city council still has to agree with the plans.
Minister Tieman: “We have seen that the reflection of the solar panels causes flight safety. In addition, there was a risk for the airport operation with potentially much delayed and canceled flights, as well as a different use of landing courts for a long time – some extra noise nuisance for the environment, I decided to help with the ministry
Regulations
There is no regulations that a municipality can test whether solar panels ensure dangerous situations for aviation. Member States are obliged to ensure that in the event of a permit for (among other things) solar panels all stakeholders are heard.
Europe has announced that it is necessary to see if such regulations are necessary. The expectation is that a decision will be made about this at the earliest in 2029.