Land for solar panels

How much land do solar panels need?

Generally speaking, solar developers will require a minimum of 10 acres of usable land—or 200 acres for a utility-scale project. A good rule of thumb is that 1 kilowatt (kW) of solar panels requires an area of 100 square feet. It’s also important to note that local towns and authorities usually do not permit full coverage of the entire parcel.

How much land does a solar farm need?

Generally, a solar farm requires around 25 acres of land for every 5 megawatts of installation capacity. Not all of this land will be usable for a project. So, developers tend to seek around 200 acres for a commercial-scale project to be on the safe side. A minimum of 10 acres is considered the industry standard for smaller projects (around 1MW).

How much does a solar farm land lease cost?

With solar farm land lease rents ranging from £850-£1100 (depending on variables such as development size and location) per acre per annum, rental rates compare favourably with other income streams such as agricultural and livestock farming, event hosting and storage services.

What is a solar land lease?

A solar land lease is an excellent way to generate an additional revenue stream—with little to no effort on the part of the landowner. In 2021, solar developers across the United States are seeking suitable land for the development of solar farm projects.

Can solar farms be built on flat land?

As with most wind power projects, developers only place solar farms on land that meets certain conditions. The land should be sturdy for solar projects and not fall foul to sinking from soft soil. But it’s also essential to consider the landscape for a site, as solar projects are particularly reliant on flat land without steep slopes.

Is solar land considered agricultural land?

While solar land may be classed as agricultural from a planning perspective, for tax purposes it ceases to be so the moment the lease is signed. At that point it not only becomes an investment property but its value will be higher than its status as agricultural land – perhaps £25,000/acre compared with a farmland value of £10,000/acre.