PV system causes glare – should I be concerned?

Glare effects from a PV system occur when the sometimes extremely bright reflections cause visual discomfort. In some cases, such impairments can even become dangerous, for example, because road users are distracted by the reflected sunlight or their vision is temporarily impaired. In a shaded environment, they may not see properly for a short time if they are dazzled by the PV system. The glare from solar modules can also become unpleasant for the neighbors.
In the past, solar modules usually faced south to convert as much sunlight as possible into electricity. In these cases, the light is mostly reflected upwards, so glare rarely occurs. Nowadays, however, solar systems with other orientations are increasingly being installed, leading to a significant increase in glare problems. Below you will find a brief list of the most important risk factors for glare from solar modules: 

• Photovoltaic systems oriented east, west, or north tend to reflect light downward, causing, for example, glare on the terrace of the neighboring property.  

• On a slope, for example on the south or west slope, reflections can radiate into neighboring houses at higher elevations. 

• The duration and extent of glare from solar modules decrease with greater distance. If the houses, however, stand close together, the glare problem increases both in time and space. The viewing angle also plays a role.  

• There are significant seasonal effects due to the changing position of the sun. A system that was glare-free in midsummer can already become a nuisance in autumn. Depending on the latitude, there are typical “glare seasons.” In Germany, between March and May and from August to October, in Spain, for example, winter is particularly affected. 

• The neighbors' presence times also play a major role. Fully employed neighbors are often away from home during typical glare times and tend to complain less. 

• Last but not least, the neighborhood relationship is important – if a conflict already exists, a lawyer is very quickly involved. In a friendly relationship, however, there is often a willingness to find a solution together and possibly even share the costs. 

High quality of living in a good neighborhood

Interest in PV systems is rising in many residential areas, making glare from solar modules an increasingly relevant issue. In the spirit of good neighborliness, it is therefore important to inform yourself before installing the PV-System considering the above-mentioned risk factors. 
If the neighborhood relationship is already somewhat tense, you should place special emphasis on preventing glare caused by Photovoltaics to avoid and, if in doubt, a Glare assessment obtain. It is not only about the optimal installation location and angle but also about the nature of the modules. 

Misunderstanding "Anti-Reflection Coating"

Typically, today's PV modules equipped with an "Anti-Reflection Coating" (ARC). Unfortunately, this layer only serves to increase yield and offers no protection against glare effects. This fact is unknown to many solar installers or is kept quiet due to lack of alternatives. Once the modules are on the roof, the damage is usually done, and the solutions then proposed, such as a hedge to pto use plants or blinds are of little help. A dismantling of the PV-Installation following an expensive and nerve-wracking legal dispute is the typical course. 

Forward-looking measures 

To avoid this annoyance, it makes sense to use glare-free modules from the outset if there is a potential glare risk. In addition to satin-finished modules, such as those offered by companies like 3S or Megasol, Phytonics offers an innovative product that can "de-glare" any solar modules: The XRF Anti-glare film ensures with its special microstructured surface that especially shallow incident light is better coupled in and the reflected rays are completely diffusely scattered. As a result, there are no direct reflections of the sun that could cause glare. The reflected brightness remains well below the often-cited glare threshold of 100,000 cd/m² even at very shallow light incidence of 70° to the surface normal, with 75,000 cd/m². Caution is advised, however, with so-called "Anti-Glare" modules based on deeply textured glass. These cannot sufficiently suppress reflections of shallow incident light but sometimes distribute them in such a way that the glare problem is even increased.  

The Anti-glare film from Phytonics allows you to orient the solar modules as you wish without the risk of glare. Measurements show that the film significantly outperforms other glare-reducing surfaces. At the same time, the high performance values are maintained, so the annual energy yield remains almost unchanged.
The XRF Anti-glare film consists of a durable, weather-resistant, and UV-resistant adhesive film and a scratch-resistant special layer with a textured surface. These two components have been used worldwide outdoors for many years, and accelerated aging tests in climate chambers have demonstrated the excellent durability of the film. 

Please contact us for further information or questions: info@phytonics.tech