Windsor Solar Project DRAFT Design and Operations Report APPENDIX D

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1 Windsor Solar Project DRAFT Design and Operations Report APPENDIX D Glare Analysis Report

2 GLARE ANALYSIS REPORT Windsor Solar Project September 2014

3 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report Table of Contents Page 1. Introduction Description of the Project Glare And Receptors Potential Glare On Pilots And Control Facility at the YQG, Windsor International Airport Glare Prediction Method Analysis Results List of Tables Table 1: General Configuration Windsor Solar Project... 2 Table 2: List of Airport Receptors... 4 Table 3: Analysis Parameters... 8 Table 4: PV Array Parameters... 9 Table 5: PV Array Vertex Parameters... 9 Table 6: Flight Path Parameters... 9 Table 7: Summary of Potential Glare Impacts on the Fight Paths Table 8: Summary of Potential Glare Impacts on Air Traffic Control Tower List of Figures Figure 1: Windsor Solar Project and Receptors... 3 Figure 2: Sketch of Solar Position... 7 Figure 3: Sketch of Solar Panel Mounting... 7 Figure 4: FAA s Glare Hazard Analysis Plot... 8 Figure 5: Glare Hazard Analysis Plot for Traffic Controller on June 21, P a g e i

4 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report 1. INTRODUCTION Windsor Solar LP proposes to develop a solar facility, known as the Windsor Solar Project (the Project ), with a maximum name plate capacity of 50 megawatts alternating current (MWac), located on the Windsor International Airport property in the City of Windsor, Ontario. The Windsor International Airport is owned by the City of Windsor and operated by Your Quick Gateway (Windsor) Inc. (YQG) and Windsor Solar LP has an option to lease lands from the City for the Project. The overall optioned lands available for development consist of approximately 175 hectares (432 acres) and the proposed Project Location is generally bounded by Rhodes Drive to the north, Division Road to the south, Lauzon Parkway to the east, and Walker Road to the west. Of the optioned lands, approximately hectares (317 acres) will be occupied by components to make up the Project. Dillon Consulting Limited (Dillon) was retained by Windsor Solar LP to conduct a glare analysis as part of a preliminary engineering design for the Project. Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are designed to convert sunlight into electricity. In order to maximize electricity generation, PV manufacturers design their panels to minimize the reflection of sunlight by applying anti-reflective coatings and surface texturing on the panels, which usually have a solar transmission over 90%. However, in certain situations, the glass surfaces of the solar panels can reflect sunlight and produce glint 1 (a momentary flash of bright light) and glare (a continuous source of bright light) that might result in an ocular impact to pilots and air traffic control facilities. This analysis report documents the potential for solar reflection/glare from the Project on operations at the YQG, Windsor International Airport. 1 Department of Transportation, 2013, Interim Policy, FAA Review of Solar Energy System Projects on Federally Obligated Airports, Federal Register, Vol. 78, No. 205, pp P a g e 1

5 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT The Project will utilize approximately 197,000 to 208,000 solar panels of between watts (DC) each arranged with 18 modules in series and 11,111 strings in parallel. The solar modules will be ground mounted on 32 degree fixed tilt racks. All these strings are connected to kw (modified to 793 kw) inverters. The panel arrays consist of either 18 or 36 modules with each panel being approximately 2m wide and 1m high. The array spacing is 10m. The Project has been proposed to set the height of the low end of the array at about 0.6m above the finished grade. The basic configuration for this project is summarized in Table 1. Location YQG, Windsor International Airport, Ontario Table 1: General Configuration Windsor Solar Project Nameplate AC Capacity, MW AC; DC Capacity MW DC 50 MW AC; 60 MW DC Configuration Modules Inverter 32 fixed tilt racking 197,000 to 287,000 solar panels of between watts (DC) kw (modified to 793 kw) inverters Figure 1 illustrates the extent of the project location where the PV panels will be constructed and the relative locations to the YQG, Windsor International Airport runways and air traffic control tower. P a g e 2

PLYMOUTH DRIVE PILLETTE ROAD JEFFERSON BOULEVARD ESSEX WAY LAUZON ROAD ") 2-mile ") 1 ¾-mile ") 1 ½-mile ") 1 ¼-mile ") 1-mile INTE ") 2-mile ") 1 ¾-mile ") 1 ½-mile E C ROW EXPRESSWAY ") ¾-mile ")

") 1-mile ") 1 ¼-mile CABANA ROAD EAST WALKER ROAD PROVINCIAL ROAD 7TH CONCESSION ROAD &- DIVISION ROAD ") Threshold ") 1/4-mile ") ½-mile ") ¾-mile ") 1-mile CONCESSION ROAD 8 CONCESSION ROAD 9 ") 1

6 PLYMOUTH DRIVE PILLETTE ROAD JEFFERSON BOULEVARD ESSEX WAY LAUZON ROAD ") 2-mile ") 1 ¾-mile ") 1 ½-mile ") 1 ¼-mile ") 1-mile INTE ") 2-mile ") 1 ¾-mile ") 1 ½-mile E C ROW EXPRESSWAY ") ¾-mile ") ½-mile ") 1/4-mile ") Threshold ") 1 ¼-mile ") 1-mile LAUZON PARKWAY LAUZON ROAD ") ¾-mile ") ½-mile ") 1/4-mile COUNTY Threshold ") ") 1/4-mile ") 1 ½-mile ") 1 ¾-mile ") 2-mile ") ½-mile ") ¾-mile ") 1-mile ") 1 ¼-mile CABANA ROAD EAST WALKER ROAD PROVINCIAL ROAD 7TH CONCESSION ROAD &- DIVISION ROAD ") Threshold ") 1/4-mile ") ½-mile ") ¾-mile ") 1-mile CONCESSION ROAD 8 CONCESSION ROAD 9 ") 1 ¼-mile ") 1 ½-mile ") 1 ¾-mile ") 2-mile CONCESSION ROAD 10 BASELINE ROAD CONCESSION ROAD 11 WINDSOR SAMSUNG SOLAR PROJECT DOUGALL PARKWAY ") &- Airport Receptors HIGHWAY 401 HIGHWAY 401 Imagery 2014, Cnes/Spot Image, DigitalGlobe, First Base Solutions, Landsat, Sanborn, U.S. Geological Survey, USDA Farm Service Agency Traffic Control Tower Project Location Airport Runways WIndsor Solar Project and Receptors FIGURE #1 MAP DRAWING INFORMATION: DATA PROVIDED BY MNR GOOGLE EARTH PRO MAP CREATED BY: SFG MAP CHECKED BY: HL MAP PROJECTION: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 17N ² SCALE 1:35, km FILE LOCATION: I:\GIS\ Samsung Windsor\ mxd\glare Analysis.mxd PROJECT: STATUS: FINAL DATE: 09/05/14

7 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report 3. GLARE AND RECEPTORS At the time of conducting this analysis, there were no federally, provincially or municipally mandated requirements or guidelines regarding how to conduct the analysis of reflection/glare of sunlight from solar projects. In the absence of any Canadian guidelines for such analysis, the United States Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) interim policy 2 FAA Review of Solar Energy System Projects on Federally Obligated Airports was referenced. This analysis includes an evaluation of the potential glare on pilots and the air traffic control facility at the YQG, Windsor International Airport. Location 3.1 Potential Glare on Pilots and Control Facility at the YQG, Windsor International Airport YQG, Windsor International Airport operates on two runways, namely CL RNWY07 and CL RNWY12. Landing and take-off can occur on both sides of two runways. To conduct the analysis, the final approach path is defined as two miles from 50 ft. above the displaced landing threshold using a three degree glide path. Observation points (Receptors) are placed from the threshold crossing point to two miles with an interval of ¼ miles along the glide path. Table 2 lists the observation points. The air traffic control tower was also included for the analysis. The air traffic control tower is located at N, W, with an eye level height of 662 ft. ( m) above mean sea level. Latitude ( ) CL RNWY 07 East Approaching Longitude ( ) Table 2: List of Airport Receptors Height above Ground (ft.) Latitude ( ) CL RNWY 07 West Approaching Longitude ( ) Height above Ground (ft.) Threshold /4-mile ½-mile ¾-mile mile ¼-mile ½-mile ¾-mile mile P a g e 4

8 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report Location CL RNWY 12 East Approaching Latitude ( ) Longitude ( ) Height above Ground (ft.) Latitude ( ) CL RNWY 12 West Approaching Longitude ( ) Height above Ground (ft.) Threshold /4-mile ½-mile ¾-mile mile ¼-mile ½-mile ¾-mile mile P a g e 5

9 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report 4. GLARE PREDICTION METHOD The impact of glare from a solar project on receptors is dictated by a combination of factors including the position of the sun in the sky, tilt of solar panels, surface characteristics (reflectivity) of solar panel, spatial size of the solar project, as well as the relative location of the receptor to the solar panels. The position of sun in the sky is described by using solar elevation angle and solar azimuth. The solar elevation angle is the altitude of the sun, the angle between the horizon and the centre of the sun s disc, and expressed in degrees. A positive value of the solar elevation angle would indicate the sun s position after sunrise and before sun set while a negative value would indicate the sun s position before sunrise or after sun set. Solar azimuth defines in which direction the sun is. The most commonly accepted convention for solar energy applications, is to define the solar azimuth as the angle between a line due north and the shadow cast by a vertical rod on earth, so north is 0, east is 90, south is 180 and west is 270. Figure 2 graphically illustrates both the solar elevation angle and azimuth. The solar modules will be ground mounted on 32 degree fixed tilt racks, as shown in Figure 3. With solar panel orientation and position of sun, the direct solar reflection can be easily solved using geometry. The amount of sunlight being reflected by a surface is determined by the surface characteristics, typically termed as albedo which is the ratio of reflected solar radiation from the surface to incident solar radiation. Albedo is dimensionless and measured on a scale from zero for no reflection of a perfectly black surface to 1 for perfect reflection of a white surface. Solar panels with a single anti-reflective coating have an albedo of around which is similar to open water 3. The dominant land use at the project site is agricultural which has an albedo of around 0.14 to Therefore, the reflectivity of the solar panels for the project is similar or lower than that of the dominant land use in the project area. A glare analysis is to provide a quantified assessment of (1) when and where glare will occur throughout the year for a given solar project; and (2) potential effects on the human eye at locations (receptors) where glare occurs. In order to do this, the FAA has made available Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Tool (SGHAT) 4 to the public. The SGHAT was designed to determine whether a proposed solar energy project would result in glare at specified receptors and/or paths; and if glare is found, the tool calculates the retinal irradiance and subtended angle (size/distance) of the glare source to predict potential ocular hazards ranging from temporary after-image to retinal burn as defined in the FAA s Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Plot 2, as shown in Figure 4. FAA adopts the Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Plot as the standard for measuring the ocular impact of any proposed solar energy system on a federally-obligated airport. The SGHAT has been used in this analysis. 2 Lasnier and Ang, 1990, Photovoltaic Engineering Handbook. Taylor & Francis, New York. 3 United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2013, AERSURFACE User s Guide, EPA-454/B Sandia National Laboratories, 2014, Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Tool (SGHAT) User s Manual v. 2E (Accessed on June 12, 2014, P a g e 6

10 Solar Elevation Angle Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report Figure 2: Sketch of Solar Position Sun North Azimuth West East South Figure 3: Sketch of Solar Panel Mounting Incident Sunlight Solar Reflection 1.3 m m P a g e 7

11 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report Figure 4: FAA s Glare Hazard Analysis Plot The SGHAT uses an interactive Google map where the user can define the outline of the proposed PV arrays, and specify receptors, and provides necessary information for sun position and vectorized geometry calculations. The inputs to the SGHAT are described in Tables 3-6. More details can be found in Appendix A. Table 3: Analysis Parameters Parameter Value Note Height unit ft. Subtended angle of the sun 0.5 Default Peak Direct Normal Irradiance 1000 W/m 2 Representative value DNI variability yes Scales by changing position of sun Ocular transmission coefficient 0.5 Default Pupil diameter m Daylight adjusted Eye focal length m Default Time interval 1 minute Yields excellent resolution P a g e 8

12 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report Table 4: PV Array Parameters Parameter Value Note Axis tracking Fixed tilt Panel tilt 32 Orientation of array 180 Facing south Rated power 50 MWac Reflectivity varies with incidence angle Yes Module surface material Light textured glass with anti-reflective coating Slope error 10 mrad Default Table 5: PV Array Vertex Parameters Latitude ( ) Longitude ( ) Ground Elevation Height above (ft.) Ground (ft.) Altitude (ft.) Table 6: Flight Path Parameters Parameter Value Note Flight path direction CL RNWY 07 approaching: 62 (west)/ 242 (east); CL RNWY 12 approaching: 116 (west)/ 296 (east); Glide slope 3 For all approaching paths Consider pilot visibility from cockpit Yes For all approaching paths Max downward viewing angle 30 Default Azimuthal viewing angle 180 Default Flight path observation point parameters are listed in Table 2. P a g e 9

13 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report 5. ANALYSIS RESULTS Detailed inputs and outputs of SGHAT are attached in Appendix A. The results of the analysis for flight paths are summarized in Table 7. Table 8 lists the assessment results for the air traffic control tower. In comparison to the FAA interim standard as shown in Figure 4, the analysis suggests: For aircraft approaching the two runways from the east, there is a low potential for glare, only between the threshold point and ¼-mile along the flight path, which can cause temporary afterimage (a lingering image of the glare in the field of view) during early morning around 7 am for less than 30 minutes from April to September. For aircraft approaching from the west, there is a potential for glare, along the flight paths, which can cause temporary after-image during early morning around 7 am for less than 30 minutes from March to September. At the air traffic control tower, there is a potential for glare which can cause temporary afterimage around 7 am for less than 30 minutes from late April to mid-september. Figure 5 shows a glare hazard analysis plot for an air traffic controller on June 21, 2014, which is the solstice for the site. This plot denotes the visual impact of glare predicted and indicates that the current panel configuration has the potential to cause the controller to have temporary after-image during the above-noted specific time period. Overall, based on SGHAT, the geometric configuration of the panels relative to the sunlight path and the inherently low reflectivity of the PV panels, the proposed Project will not result in hazardous glare conditions, in comparison to the FAA interim standard as shown in Figure 4. P a g e 10

14 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report Table 7: Summary of Potential Glare Impacts on the Fight Paths Location Potential Glare Impact CL RNWY 07 East Approaching Month of Occurrence Timing of Occurrence (around) Maximum Duration (min.) Potential Glare Impact CL RNWY 07 West Approaching Month of Occurrence Timing of Occurrence (around) Maximum Duration (min) Threshold LP4TA Apr-May, Aug-Sept 7 am < 30 P4TA Mar-Sep 7 am < 30 ¼ mile LP4TA Sep 7 am < 30 P4TA Mar-Sep 7 am < 30 ½ mile NG P4TA Mar-Sep 7 am < 30 ¾ mile NG P4TA Mar-Sep 7 am < 30 1 mile NG P4TA Mar-Sep 7 am < 30 1 ¼ mile NG P4TA Apr-Sep 7 am < 30 1 ½ mile NG P4TA Apr-Sep 7 am < 30 1 ¾ mile NG P4TA Apr-Aug 7 am < 30 2 mile NG P4TA Apr-Aug 7 am < 30 CL RNWY 12 East Approaching CL RNWY 12 West Approaching Location Potential Glare Impact Month of Occurrence Timing of Occurrence (around) Maximum Duration (min.) Potential Glare Impact Month of Occurrence Timing of Occurrence (around) Maximum Duration (min) Threshold LP4TA May-Aug 7 am < 30 P4TA Apr-Sep 7 am < 30 ¼ mile NG P4TA Mar-May, Jul-Sep 7 am < 30 ½ mile NG P4TA Mar-May, Aug-Sep 7 am < 30 ¾ mile NG P4TA Mar-May, Aug-Sep 7 am < 30 1 mile NG P4TA Mar-Apr, Aug-Sep 7 am < 30 1 ¼ mile NG P4TA Mar-Apr, Aug-Sep 7 am < 30 1 ½ mile NG P4TA Mar-Apr, Aug-Sep 7 am < 30 1 ¾ mile NG P4TA Mar-Apr, Sep 7 am < 30 2 mile NG P4TA Mar, Sep 7 am < 30 NG no glare LP4TA low potential for temporary after-image P4TA potential for temporary after-image P a g e 11

Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report Receptor Air Traffic Control Tower Table 8: Summary of Potential Glare Impacts on Air Traffic Control Tower Potential Glare Impact NG no glare LP4TA low

15 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report Receptor Air Traffic Control Tower Table 8: Summary of Potential Glare Impacts on Air Traffic Control Tower Potential Glare Impact NG no glare LP4TA low potential for temporary after-image P4TA potential for temporary after-image Month of Occurrence Timing of Occurrence (around) Maximum Duration (min) P4TA Late-Apr to Mid-Sep 7 am < 30 Figure 5: Glare Hazard Analysis Plot for Traffic Controller on June 21, 2014 P a g e 12

16 Windsor Solar Project Glare Analysis Report APPENDIX A Glare Hazard Analysis Reports

^_ Key Observation Point Viewshed Model. Grazing Yak Solar Project. Key Observation Point Location Map KOP #6 KOP #3 KOP #1 KOP #2 KOP #4 KOP #5

^_ Key Observation Point Viewshed Model. Grazing Yak Solar Project. Key Observation Point Location Map KOP #6 KOP #3 KOP #1 KOP #2 KOP #4 KOP #5 Liberty Rd Paint Mine Rd Mc Queen Rd Paint Mine Rd E q Funk Rd ^_ KOP #6 Currier Rd Washington Rd ^_ KOP #1 ^_ KOP #2 ^_ KOP #3 Hanisch Rd ^_ KOP #4 Judge Orr Rd ^_ KOP #5 0 1,000 2,000 Feet Solar Array