Radio and visual hindrance caused by solar parks next to waterways

TNO focusses on waterways and shipping in the current report. We investigate guidelines for both electromagnetic and visual hindrance. By “electromagnetic hindrance” we mean the hindrance in parts of the electromagnetic spectrum used for communication, information transfer and navigation (Radio, AIS, GPS, 4G, etc.). By “visual hindrance” we mean the hindrance a skipper or relevant personnel ashore experiences due to reflection of sunlight (dazzle). In short, electromagnetic hindrance affects the transfer of information and visual hindrance affects the perception of information. Both forms of hindrance are complex phenomena in which many different parameters are involved. For electromagnetic hindrance think for example of the equipment properties of both interfering system and receiver, but also the distance and relative position of the two. Calculating the electromagnetic hindrance is done using an advanced model to simulate the electromagnetic propagation of the signal.