SOLAR ENERGY FARMS

REPORTER: ANNE NICCOLE C. MICOSA

BS CRIMINOLOGY
 WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY?

Solar energy is simply the light and heat that come from the sun.
People can harness the sun's energy in a few different ways: Photovoltaic
cells, which convert sunlight into electricity. Solar thermal technology,
where heat from the sun is used to make hot water or steam.

Photovoltaic (PV) essentially means electricity from the energy of the sun
and is derived from the words “photo” with the Greek meaning light and
“voltaic” meaning voltage. The term “photovoltaic” is used to describe a
process known as the “photovoltaic effect” the process by which a material
such as silicon converts sunlight into electricity.
 WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY FARMS?

A solar farm is a large collection of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that

absorb energy from the sun, convert it into electricity and send that
electricity to the power grid for distribution and consumption by
customers like you. Solar farms which you’ll sometimes see being called
solar parks or photovoltaic power stations are usually mounted to the
ground instead of rooftops and come in all shapes and sizes.

A broader definition of solar farms could include other ground-mounted

solar arrays large enough to supply power for many households. This
general concept of a solar farm could be associated with both residential
community solar and community solar projects that have a few hundred
solar panels, and larger utility-scale solar that has thousands of solar
panels. In some cases, community solar might be a good alternative for
homeowners who cannot utilize a solar option on their own property.
 TYPES OF SOLAR FARMS

There are two main types of solar farms around the country:
utility-scale solar farms and community solar farms. The main
difference between the two is their customers, as utility-scale solar farms
sell directly to utilities, while community solar farms sell directly to
end-consumers of electricity, such as homeowners and renters.
 UTILITY SCALE SOLAR FARM

A utility-scale solar farm (often referred to as simply a solar power plant) is a

large solar farm consisting of many solar panels and is owned by a utility that
sends electricity to the grid. Depending on the installation’s geographic location,
the power produced at these farms is either sold to wholesale utility buyers through
a power purchase agreement (PPA) or owned directly by an electric utility
company. Regardless of the exact structure, the original customer of the solar
power is a utility, who then distributes the generated electricity to residential,
commercial, and industrial customers connected to the grid
UTILITY SCALE SOLAR FARM
COMMUNITY SOLAR FARMS

The idea of community solar has taken off in recent years as more
homeowners have realized that they can go solar without putting solar panels on
their own physical roof. A community solar farm—sometimes referred to as a
“solar garden” or roofless solar —is a farm whose electricity is shared by more
than one household. In most cases, a community solar array is a large ground
mount installation that spans one or many acres.
Visually, these solar gardens resemble utility-scale solar farms, but they are
often smaller in size. Customers can either purchase a share of a solar garden
and own that portion of the overall array or they can lease energy from the solar
system and, in a sense, replace their monthly utility payments with monthly
community solar payments that are typically at a lower price. You can find
community solar projects in your town or state in our Community Solar
Marketplace.
COMMUNITY SOLAR FARM
Rooftop solar vs. solar farms

Joining a community solar farm can be a great option if your roof isn’t right for solar or
don’t want solar panels installed on your property. Even if your roof is good for solar,
enrolling in a community solar project can still be worth it if the costs are low and the
contract terms are beneficial. As community solar projects become more common and
the contract terms become more consumer-friendly, solar farm options will compete even
more with rooftop solar. However, each individual property has unique challenges and
considerations, and there’s no easy way to determine if you’re the right candidate for
joining a solar farm.
Will there be stray voltage from a solar farm?
No. The collection and transmission lines used in these modern solar farm effectively
prevent stray voltage. These lines are significantly different than what might be seen in
local distribution systems or low-voltage wiring in sheds, barns, and dairy facilities

What happens if there is snow on the solar panels?

In larger solar farms, the solar panels rotate throughout the day. When they are tilted,
snow will slide off on its own. If some portion of the panels are covered in snow, the
remaining portion can still generate power and, in doing so, will generate some heat
that will encourage melting of the rest of the snow.

How do solar panels produce power when it’s not sunny?

At night the solar panels go into standby mode and do not produce any energy.
However, even on cloudy days the panels are producing power.
What is it like living next to a solar farm?
Solar farms are quiet neighbors. They are a very low-impact development within
communities. Unlike using natural gas or coal to generate power, they do not combust
anything and thus have no pollution. They do not create any odors or output any
chemicals. Solar farms use no water for their operation. This is also in stark contrast to
using coal or natural gas to make electricity. The only audible noise is from cooling fans
within equipment (inverters and transformers) that move the electric power to the grid,
and those only operate when the sun is shining and power is being produced. After the
sun goes down, there is no audible noise from the solar equipment.

How much land is required for solar farms?

A good rule of thumb is five to seven acres of land are used for every megawatt of
solar power capacity. A solar developer will seek to contract for additional land to
provide more flexibility in laying out the arrays, routing interconnection corridors, and to
meet state requirements for alternative siting options.
Are solar panels a safe technology?

Yes. Solar panels are safe to touch, attach to your home, and install in your
neighborhood or town. Panels are primarily made of glass, aluminum, copper, and other
common materials. Solar projects also utilize steel racks to position panels, electrical
cable and inverters and electric transformers to deliver power to the grid. All of this
equipment is safe and contains the same materials that are found in household
appliances. There are trace amounts of chemicals in solar panels that enable them to
produce electricity. These compounds are completely sealed within the glass and
coatings of the panels. After their useful life, solar panels and equipment are easy to
disassemble and recycle. Solar facilities are constantly monitored, and the owners have
a business interest in keeping them well-maintained and operating properly. Solar
plants are designed to withstand severe weather, and panels are built to last for up to
40 years. If solar panels are damaged, they can be quickly replaced with new ones.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING