Utility Scale Solar - Design & Installation

When searching for alternative investment options there are so many reasons to consider solar farming, mainly because it also has a great potential to appreciate in challenging economic times.

Investing in solar farms means you will promote the use of alternative energy sources in the country, declining its reliance or dependability on finite fuel. Additionally, solar energy farms have become a popular option for residential and commercial properties. Even the power companies in Florida utilize solar farms to produce sufficient electrical energy to power an entire city or a larger region.

If you’re looking for “how to start a solar farm,” you must understand:

- Cost & Investment

- Perform geological survey on the property

- Installation engineering

- Ground mount post & racking partners

- Installation management & crews

- Monitoring and Tracking

- Service & maintenance. 

This is where Solar First comes in, we can consult, design and manage every step of the way! 

 The typical cost of building a solar power plant is between $0.89 and $1.01 per watt. A 1MW (megawatt) solar farm can cost you between $890,000 and $1.01 million.

If you have the land to build a solar farm, these costs are based on the SEIA’s average national cost numbers. Rooftop solar systems are more expensive to install and maintain than solar farms. According to SEIA statistics, residential solar panel systems (fewer than 20 kW) cost $3.06 per watt.

In other words, the price you pay for building a solar farm per watt is far lower than installing solar energy for homes.

To increase their capacity for power generation, utilities are increasingly turning to solar farms due to their low cost. In addition to being one of the most affordable sources of generating renewable energy, solar power is now equally affordable to sources of electricity derived from fossil fuels.

 According to GTM Research, 1 MW solar farms require 6–8 acres to accommodate all the necessary infrastructure and space between panel rows.

Be aware that you require more area for massive solar installations than just the solar installations themselves. Additionally, the land is needed to house auxiliary devices like inverters, and the room must be provided between solar panel rows to allow access to repairs and maintenance.

 Investors have a few alternatives to invest in solar farms. Also, it’s more complex than equities and bonds.

• Numerous businesses provide loans for the construction of community solar farms like mortgage lending facilities. You need to compare loan charges and interest rates because they can differ significantly. Some local utility firms offer investors a profit-sharing arrangement with local inhabitants. Find out if this option is available where you live by contacting yours.
• Opt for iShares sustainable ETFs that focus on particular themes, such as environmental issues. Most of today’s brokerages allow these ETFs to be purchased and sold.
• Purchasing stock in a publicly traded solar energy firm is an additional choice. This can provide a strong ROI while assisting the nation in moving towards a more sustainable electricity grid.

Investment in solar energy supports the development of jobs. It also is supported by government incentives and is becoming more widely available.

Unlike other energy sources, the sun offers endless energy, considerably more than humanity could ever need. It also requires little fuel to capture or expensive operating costs as an energy source.

Although designing and constructing a solar farm is quite difficult, there are other methods to get started. Some utilities allow locals to participate in a profit-sharing scheme or a reduced-cost energy plan. Another way to get started is by buying stock in a publicly traded business specializing in solar energy.

 This database provides examples of state laws, state agency regulations and guidance, and model laws related to farmland solar policy. Because laws governing renewable energy change very quickly, this database is NOT intended to reflect the most current law in any particular state. Rather, it is intended to to assist policymakers in identifying options for policy design and different frameworks for regulation of farmland solar development.