A Conservative MP has raised concerns about the potential impact of new solar farms on flight safety, suggesting they could even cause the Red Arrows to crash.
Dr Caroline Johnson, who represents Sleaford and North Hykeham, argues that light reflecting off the solar panels could dazzle RAF pilots.
Speaking out against plans for large-scale solar farms in her rural Lincolnshire constituency, the Tory MP argued they were inappropriate as they could hinder farmland productivity in the area.
She claimed solar panels could be potentially dangerous to pilots operating from nearby air bases, including one with historical significance from the Second World War and another serving as a crucial training facility. However, MPs in parliament clarified that solar power farms absorb light and do not reflect light.
Dr Johnson told the House of Commons: “I also ask the minister to give due consideration to the three RAF bases local to my constituency, RAF Waddington, RAF Cranwell and RAF Digby. Glint and glare from reflective panels will cause problems for pilots flying over these areas.
“Our newest pilots undergo basic training at Cranwell, and RAF Waddington is home to the Red Arrows. It is a huge joy for me and many of my constituents to watch the nation’s iconic display team practice the loop-the-loop and roll into turns at high speeds.
“But the miles and miles of aligned panels creating glint and glare could lead to disaster.”
Labour MP Sarah Russell (Congleton) intervened and asked Dr Johnson to clarify.
She said: “Does [she] agree with me that pilots seem to fly throughout our nation and many others already, despite there being widespread solar panels in, for instance, Spain, where there is more sunshine than here. So it seems unlikely that they’ll be unlikely to manage in her constituency.”
Dr Johnson replied: “I wonder if the average jumbo jet flying to Heathrow does a loop-the-loop on the way in?”
She continued to raise concerns, this time about the impact on the home of UK signals unit, the Joint Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities Group, which provides support to the army, the RAF and the Royal Navy.
She said: “RAF Digby is the headquarters of the Joint Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities Group. Any interference with these defence estates could cause significant harm.”
Speaking from the front bench, Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello (West Dorset) said he could “write a whole other speech debunking some of the things that were said today”, adding: “Any solar farm development requires a glint and glare report before it gets approved if it’s anywhere near an air force base or an airport.”
Energy minister Michael Shanks said: “These solar panels are designed to absorb light, not reflect it, and … glint and glare is considered within the planning process already. So it is one of the factors that is taken into account.”
Five large solar farms have already been approved for Lincolnshire, with more in the pipeline.
However, there has been criticism that expansion will vastly reduce the amount of high-quality agricultural land.
Dr Johnson said: “Lincolnshire is the nation’s breadbasket and produces 30 per cent of the nation’s vegetables.
“The land in the county is also more productive than the UK average, with the wheat harvest over a difficult last five years 25 per cent above the UK average and much, much more productive than global averages. So this is land we can least afford to lose.”
RAF Waddington, RAF Cranwell and the Ministry of Defence have been contacted for comment.
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