Nuisance Solar Glare Produced by Power Plant, Nevada, USA
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Stillwater Power Plant, Nevada, produces nuisance solar glare

Stillwater Power Plant, Nevada, produces nuisance solar glare
September 28, 2017 Danny Scrivener

Overview

A solar development located to the north of Stillwater, Nevada, in the USA, has come under scrutiny following reported glare towards surrounding residents located east and west of the solar panels. The developer is now in the process of implementing mitigation[1].

Solar development details

The PV development has been operational since 2012 and has a capacity of 26MW. The development covers a total area of 240 acres and consists of 89,000 solar panels.

The whole development is known as the Stillwater Triple Hybrid Power Plant. It consists of the solar photovoltaic development, a concentrated solar power system and a geothermal power plant. The development is a world first for combining all three of these technologies in a single plant and the total generating capacity is 61 MW[2] .

Further information on the combined power plant can be found here.

The issue

A complaint was received in December 2016, four years after the development was constructed. A meeting was held and an investigation was completed. The investigation showed that the glare would last for about an hour to an hour-and-a-half for five months out of the year and that is was visible from the ground and first floor of the dwellings.

The properties affected are located at 4500 Freeman Lane and 4110 Portuguese Lane. The approximate location of the affected dwellings is presented in Figure 1 below. The solar development can also be seen between the two locations.

Nevada1

Figure 1: Affected dwellings approximate location

The solution

The solution to the glare has been to construct a glare screen. The screen is 11ft (3.35m) tall and 1,750ft (533m) long. The screen consists of an 8ft (2.44m) chain link fence mounted on a 3ft (10.91m) tall berm. The screen was due for completion on 15 June 2017.

The screening however has only been able to mitigate the glare to the ground floor but the developer has suggested that window shades, solar film or an automatic blackout curtain are potential options for the upper floors.

Conclusions

Glint and Glare Assessment would have determined whether solar reflections could be an issue. The assessment would have identified locations where solar reflections are possible and whether screening is required, and if so, the approximate height requirement. This could have reduced the likelihood of unwanted publicity whilst ensuring residential amenity was maintained.

References

[1] Enel Green Power, public comments update Churchill County commission about glare, Aly Lawson, Nevada Appeal, 6 June 2017. Last accessed 19.06.2017.

[2] The Stillwater Triple Hybrid Power Plant: Integrating Geothermal, Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Power Generation, DiMarzio et al, 2015. Last accessed 20.06.2017.

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