Speaker
Description
Large‑scale photovoltaic (PV) installations introduce extensive inclined planar surfaces that can act as screening elements but also as reflective structures. This can influence sound propagation from the source to the receiver. While PV plants are often assessed primarily as noise sources themselves; however, the role of PV panels as barriers and/or reflectors affecting sound from other noise sources is less commonly addressed.This contribution investigates the influence of PV panels on sound propagation and reflections for different types of noise sources commonly present. This can include road traffic, battery energy storage systems (BESS), distributed string inverters, central inverters and transformers, and wind turbines. The analysis focuses on geometric effects associated with panel inclination, relative source, panel and receiver positioning, and the interaction between screening and reflection mechanisms.By considering PV panels as part of the sound propagation environment rather than solely the PV plant, as noise‑emitting equipment, the study highlights situations in which inclined panel layouts may alter sound paths and local sound level distributions in hybrid energy and transport infrastructure.