Solar panels are designed to absorb as much sunlight as possible and convert it into electricity. Minimising the panels’ reflectivity is a goal of panel design, manufacture and installation. As such, modern solar panels, as proposed for the Benger Solar Farm, are treated with anti-reflective coatings, meaning they reflect significantly less light than other common materials such as paint and standard glass.
Group: Visual Impact
How far back from the boundary will the solar panels be set?
The solar farm will be set back approximately 10-20m from the boundary. This includes a landscape buffering and a firebreak, which doubles as an internal access track.
Will landscaping be provided as screening for surrounding properties?
A landscape buffer will be provided along the project boundary to protect the area’s visual amenity. Landscaping will include a mix of indigenous shrubs and trees of varied heights and will have the added benefit of creating important new habitats for native fauna, thus supporting the region’s biodiversity.