Evaluation of the Glare Function and Description of Key Measurement Procedures

The glare effect of PV systems is an increasingly discussed topic. Despite the growing concern about disturbing glare behaviour, data on building materials, windows, façade elements, roof tiles, or solar modules are often unavailable or, when provided, not comparable across manufacturers. The aim of this standardized glare measurement guide is to establish a comprehensive and repeatable procedure for assessing the potential glare from artificial surfaces and building materials, such as tiles, window glasses, façade materials, photovoltaic (PV) modules or PV cover glasses. The primary objective is to ensure the safety and comfort of people exposed to sunlight reflections by accurately quantifying and analysing glare phenomena. A secondary objective is to provide PV module manufacturers and installers with a reproducible method for assessing glare potential. Two approaches will be presented to yield results which are comparable to each other. Several PV cover materials are used as examples for the measurement methods and for the illustration of the resulting glare behaviour.