Research on Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation in the Airfield Area

at Civil Airports

Bo Li, Wen Zhang, Junku Xu and Jidong Wang

China Airport Construction Group Corporation

Beijing Super-Creative Technology Co., LTD

elizabeth0423

163.com

Keywords: Solar photovoltaic power, civil airports, airfield area.

Abstract: As a green and renewable energy source, the solar energy is advantageous due to its large reserve, economic

performance, cleanness, and environmental protection, etc. Solar photovoltaic power generation in airports

will produce excellent social, economic and environmental benefits with great significance in constructing

green airports and promoting the energy conservation and emission reduction of civil aviation. This paper has

analyzed the conditions necessary for solar photovoltaic power generation in the airfield area in civil airports

in details, explored and studied the solar photovoltaic power generation in the airfield area in airports from

multiple perspectives, and drawn relevant conclusions and suggestions.

1 INTRODUCTION

Along with the social development and scientific and

technological progress, there is an increasingly

growing demand for energy, coupled with

aggravating energy crisis and environmental

pollution day by day. Research and practice has

shown that the solar energy is a renewable energy

with the most abundant resources, wide distribution

and is renewable without environmental pollution,

which makes it the internationally recognized ideal

alternative energy. Therefore, such clean, economic,

safe and reliable renewable energy sources like solar

energy have gradually become the foundation of

future energy mix and been applied in production and

living more and more widely. In the long-term energy

strategy, the solar photovoltaic power generation will

become the cornerstone for future energy source of

human society and leading actor of the global energy

landscape.

The aggregate of radiation resources of solar

energy in China is relatively abundant. In regions

covering over 2/3 of the total area of China, the

annual sunshine duration exceeds 2,000 hours and the

annual radiant quantity is more than 5,000 MJ/m

According to the statistics analysis, the total quantity

of solar radiation exposure each year on the land area

of China is 3.3×103～8.4×103 MJ/m

, equivalent to

2.4×10.4 billion ton of the standard coal reserve.

Therefore, the photovoltaic power generation

technology has the biggest potential for renewable

energy sources in China. Reasonable use of solar

photovoltaic power generation can save resources,

reduce pollution, and realize sustainable development.

2 CONDITIONS FOR SOLAR

PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER

GENERATION IN THE

AIRFIELD AREA IN AIRPORTS

As the large energy consumers, besides ensuring the

normal operation of flights, the civil aviation airports

shall fully take advantage of large ground areas in

airports to build the solar photovoltaic power stations

on roofs of buildings in working areas and cargo

transport areas as well as parking structures and open

spaces around the airfield area, etc. and actively

develop the renewable alternative energy sources, so

as to meet the growing demand of civil aviation

market. The airfield area of airports are suitable

places for photovoltaic power generation. For one,

this is because of no high-rise buildings around the

airfield area of airports with little block, and for the

other, there is sufficient venue for implementation of

the photovoltaic power generation project. The

airfield areas are relatively open and cover a large

Li, B., Zhang, W., Xu, J. and Wang, J.

Research on Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation in the Airﬁeld Area at Civil Airports.

In 3rd International Conference on Electromechanical Control Technology and Transportation (ICECTT 2018), pages 97-101

ISBN: 978-989-758-312-4

area with many unused spaces, such as green spaces

and soil surface areas surrounding the runways.

Without prejudice to the safety of flying and climbing

and landing for planes, the airfield area can be used

as one of the best sites for photovoltaic power

generation.

According to the functions and features of the

airport, photovoltaic power generation in the airfield

area shall meet the following basic conditions:

 Solar energy resource in the airport area is

relatively abundant with the ideal conditions

for solar photovoltaic power generation.

 Wind power and wind direction in the airport

area meet the requirements of photovoltaic

power generation system. In case of areas

with frequent heavy winds at disaster grade,

it is unfit for constructing the photovoltaic

power generation system.

 The site of solar photovoltaic power

generation project shall be selected from the

unused lands in the airfield area, such as soil

surface area and green space around the

runways by the side, meeting the

requirements of safety and height in the areas

relating to plane approach, transit, go-around,

clearance, etc., and free from glare or

electromagnetic interference.

3 ANALYSIS OF SOLAR

PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER

GENERATION IN THE

AIRFIELD AREA

3.1 Analysis of Influence on Flight

Safety

To install the solar photovoltaic modules near

runways, it is required to consider airplane

overrunning the runway by accident and bumping

into the solar cell panels and it shall be ensured to

minimize damages to airplanes.

By technical researches, the solar cell panel

support can be manufactured as a mounting support

that is easy to fold. Since the solar cell panel is brittle

under impact, an additional infrared ray detection

system for early warning can be installed. In the case

that an airplane is about to crash to the solar cell panel

or has crashed onto the solar cell panel system, the

whole system could lie down to the ground instantly

with its height lowered to a level below the height of

the tires on the landing gear, so that the aircraft will

be refrained from any damages and the occurrence of

a disaster can be minimized. As for airplanes taking

off or landing on other runways, since the airplanes

are far enough in spacing and are not located right

ahead of the pilot's compartment, and equipped with

complete and mature navigation systems, the

research indicates that the safe departure and landing

by the pilot will not be affected even if the panels

could reflect light.

The foldable photovoltaic support system is

adopted, and the photovoltaic module shall be

arranged and mounted vertically, and the detailed

form of the foldable support is as follows:

Figure 1: Drawing of the Photovoltaic Support

In Figure 1, the hinged joints 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are

connected with bolts, which can rotate freely on the

support plane; the hinged joint 7 is connected with a

pull pin, which can also rotate freely on the support

plane; the hinged joint 5 is fixed with rigid chain,

which is in fixed condition under normal conditions,

providing sufficient rigidity for the rear column. The

pull pin of the hinged joint 7 and the rigid chain of the

hinged joint 5 are connected with the motor. When an

airplane overruns the runway by accident，touches

the infrared ray surrounding the photovoltaic field

and the motor is started, the pull pin of the hinged

joint 7 is removed, making the hinged joint 5 rotate

and the rear column lose rigidity, thus making the

photovoltaic support been folded easily, so as to

minimize damages to the airplane. Detail drawing of

the folded support is as the following Figure2:

Figure 2: Drawing of Folded Support

ICECTT 2018 - 3rd International Conference on Electromechanical Control Technology and Transportation

3.2 Analysis of the Impact on the Air

Traffic Control and the Navigation

Station

As we all know, the frequency of direct current is

equivalent to zero. Without alternating electric field

and magnetic field, there is hardly any

electromagnetic radiation in the direct current part.

The electromagnetic radiation of a photovoltaic

system is mainly concentrated at the part of

equipment with alternating current. The photovoltaic

module will not generate any electromagnetic

radiation during power generation, however, in order

to convert the direct current generated by the

photovoltaic module into alternating current and

connect to the power grid, many electrical equipment

and electronic devices are generally needed, and such

equipment and devices will have impact on the

surrounding electromagnetic environment during

operation. In the power field, the 50 Hz (or 60 Hz)

frequencies are usually called the "power frequency"

(the "PF"). The household electric appliances used in

our daily life, such as, television, vacuum cleaner,

fridge, electric blanket, electric razor and other

appliances will generate power frequency

electromagnetic field. With scientific measurement,

the values in the electromagnetic environment of the

solar photovoltaic power generation system are

within the limited values of each indicator, and the

values of the electromagnetic environment of the

solar photovoltaic power station in the range of power

frequency are even lower than values produced by

common household appliances during normal

operation, therefore, the system will have no

electromagnetic interference with the navigation

station as long as it is not located in the protective

area of the navigation station.

The grid-connected inverter selected for the

photovoltaic system in the Airfield area uses a metal

case for shielding, therefore, the inverter will not

produce excessive electromagnetic radiation beyond

standard, and will have no impact on the airport

navigation and flights. While the boosting

transformer and other power switch cabinets and

devices mainly generate power frequency radiation

with relatively small amount of radiation energy, and

they will have no impact on the airport navigation and

flights, neither. Meanwhile, all distribution

equipment can employ metal cases for shielding and

grounding, so as to reduce electromagnetic radiation

outward and reduce the impact on the system from

external lightning. All cables outside of the earth

surface use metal raceways or metal tubes for

shielding protection, and the 10 KV cables are wired

and connected with cable trenches under the earth

surface. As a result, there are no circumstance that

would affect the navigation station.

3.3 Analysis of Light Reflection

The light pollution of the photovoltaic power

generation project mainly comes from the solar

photovoltaic modules. Triple technologies can be

adopted for solar cells to reduce the reflection of

light, improve the utilization of optical energy and

improve the conversion efficiency and quantity of

power generation.

3.3.1 Anti-reflection Property of Crystalline

Silicon Wafer

In order to improve the performance of solar cells,

textured structure is usually manufactured on the

surface of the silicon wafer. The effective textured

structure causes the incident light to be repeatedly

reflected and refracted on the surface, which can

increase the absorptivity of light. Textured cells have

a less reflection loss than glossy cells.

3.3.2 Anti-reflection Coating

When light hits the planar silicon wafer, a part of light

is reflected; even when light hits the textured silicon

surface, absorption increases due to multiple

reflections of the incident light, but there still is about

11% reflection loss. A layer of anti-reflection coating

on it can greatly reduce the light reflection. As anti-

reflection coating is of good optical properties, and

the refraction index is about 1.3 - 2.4, it can reduce

the reflection of sunlight, and improve the

absorptivity of light.

3.3.3 Anti-reflection Property of Special

Glass Panel for Solar Energy

The main products of packaging glass for solar cells

are low-iron tempered textured glass, which has a

light transmittance of more than 91% in the

wavelength range of the solar cell spectrum response

(320-1,100 nm) and a high reflectivity of the infrared

light greater than 1,200 nm. In order to improve the

photoelectric conversion efficiency, glass cover with

surface provided with a pyramid concave and convex

design can be used. Such concave and convex pattern

can inhibit the reflection of sunlight on the glass

surface, so that more sunlight could reach the solar

cells.

Compared with the natural surface reflectivity of

common materials, the reflectivity of solar modules

Research on Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation in the Airﬁeld Area at Civil Airports

is lower, which is even less than the curtain wall of

the outer wall of terminal. The impact on people in

high-rise buildings or aircraft pilots is weaker than

common situations on ground in the natural world.

3.4 Benefit Analysis

Solar energy is inexhaustible. Attributable to its

nature of environmental protection, low carbon and

emission reduction and zero consumption of energy

resources, solar photovoltaic power generation is the

new energy industry strongly supported and

encouraged for development by the government. At

present, subsidies are granted to distributed

photovoltaic power generation projects in accordance

with national policies, which will last 20 years.

Relevant policies have also been promulgated by

various localities to give financial subsidies to

photovoltaic power generation projects.

According to the professional research data, each

1 kWh of electricity generated by photovoltaic power

generation saves 0.4kgce and 4L of clean water, and

reduces 0.272kg carbon dust, 0.997kg CO

, 0.03kg

and 0.015kg NO

at the same time. As it can be

seen that social benefits, economic benefits and

environmental benefits of the solar photovoltaic

power generation project are remarkable.

4 CONCLUSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 Conclusions

Through the analysis of impact on flight safety of

solar photovoltaic power generation system, the

analysis of impact on air traffic control and

navigation station, the analysis of impact on light

reflection, and the analysis of comprehensive

benefits, it can be acknowledged that the construction

of solar photovoltaic power station in the Airfield

area will not affect the operational safety of aircrafts,

and as long as appropriate safety assessments and

demonstrations are made, PV modules can be

installed in areas beyond taxiway and climbing and

descending belt. From this perspective, solar energy

utilization in airports has a very optimistic prospect

as an important manifestation of the construction of

green airports, which provides a new path for energy

conservation and emission reduction for airports and

even the civil aviation industry.

4.2 Recommendations

(1)After the completion of the airport photovoltaic

power generation system, grid-connected power

generation is required. The effective and reasonable

grid integration of photovoltaic power generation

system is a major issue to be solved in the power

system of an airport, because the grid integration of

photovoltaic power generation system involves the

overall impact on the power grid of the whole airport.

The airport power grid needs to carry out an

optimized control for the grid-connected photovoltaic

power generation system. Therefore, the grid

integration of photovoltaic power generation must be

addressed properly, power grid access shall be

properly implemented, solar power grid integration

shall be ensured, and the power generation and

operation dispatch shall be rationally arranged, so as

to improve the stability of grid-connected operation

of photovoltaic power generation system, and

enhance the power quality and the economy of entire

power grid operation, making full use of solar energy

resources in the airports.

(2) In consideration of the high initial investment

in solar photovoltaic power generation, a large

number of professional and technical personnel are

required in the process of construction, operation and

maintenance. It is suggested that the airport solar

photovoltaic power generation project adopt the BOT

mode (build-operate-transfer); the airport provides

the site for the construction of photovoltaic power

station and introduces social capital and specialized

companies for investment, building and operation of

the photovoltaic power generation projects.

Professional companies and airport operation units

shall sign relevant agreements, according to which

fees shall be collected from users within the

concession period as specified therein to recover the

investment and make a profit. At last, the project shall

be transferred to the airports in accordance with the

agreements. The advantages of this model lie in

reducing investment by the airport, avoiding a great

deal of engineering risks, and being able to

effectively utilize the advanced technology and

management experiences of professional companies,

which is beneficial to the smooth implementation of

the entire photovoltaic power generation project.

ICECTT 2018 - 3rd International Conference on Electromechanical Control Technology and Transportation

100

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This work is funded by “The major projects of civil

aviation scientific and technological innovation guide

fund”. (MHRD20130111).

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