What are solar farms & how do they work?

Solar farms are decentralized and usually consist of ground-mounted solar panels, installed across large areas. In most cases, solar farms provide power to the electric grid and are part of the utility’s energy mix. There are also different types of large solar projects, like community solar farms and utility-scale solar farms.

Where are solar farms located?

In the U.S., many of the solar farms are concentrated in the south, from California to Florida – as solar power stations are likely to be more successful in providing to power lines in these sunny states.

Are solar farms environmentally friendly?

Many states have “best siting practices” for solar installers to follow, as does the U.S. Department of Energy, to minimize the environmental impacts of solar farms. Eight states in the U.S. also have legislation promoting “pollinator-friendly” solar farms to protect local biodiversity.

What is the difference between a solar farm and a community solar farm?

Utility-scale solar farms can have a capacity of anywhere between 1 MW to 2,000 MW. Community solar farms, on the other hand, are typically under 5 MW in size, and it's not uncommon to find ones that are under 100 kW. Another key difference between the two types of solar farm is who they provide their power to.