Module 3 Developing a Solar Farm

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 Overview
• Site Selection
• Solar Resource Assessments
• Pyranometers
• Environmental Studies
• Land Lease Agreements
• Green-lighting projects
• Solar Construction Process

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 1. Access to the power grid
• What is maximum capacity allowed on grid?
• Will upgrades be required?
• How accessible is the grid from the site?
2. Site boundaries
• Estimates for utility-scale PV systems range from 3.5 to 10 acres per
megawatt.
• Estimates for CSP facilities are between 4 and 16.5 acres per megawatt.
Solar Site 3. Land Features
• What’s the topography?

Selection • Is there water access (CSP)

• CSP plants that use wet-recirculating technology with cooling
towers withdraw between 600 and 650 gallons of water per
megawatt-hour of electricity produced.
4. Solar characteristics
• What is potential solar radiation?
• Direct Radiation
• Diffuse Radiation

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 Solar Resource Assessments
The measurement of the sun’s radiation on the earth is referred to as
global solar radiation.
• Direct Radiation = solar radiation traveling on a straight line from
the sun down to the surface of the earth. *Shadows can only be
created from direct radiation.
• Diffuse Radiation = sunlight that has been scattered by molecules
and particles in the atmosphere but that has still made it down
to the surface of the earth.
Solar Resource Assessments (SRAs) calculate estimates of a potential
facility’s annual energy production by:
• Pyranometers (Ground mounted measuring instrument)
• Satellite Data

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 Pyranometer • Pyranometers measure solar
radiation.
• It operates based on
temperature differences
between a clear surface and
dark surface.
• The black coating on the
detector absorbs the solar
radiation, while the clear
surface reflects it, and hence
less heat is absorbed.

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 Environmental Studies
• Noise
• Typically, this is only assessed during the construction phase and is measured
to assess negative impact on off-site areas.
• Proximity to Delicate Resources
• Floodplains or Wetlands
• Prime and Unique Farmlands or Soils
• Wild and Scenic Rivers, State or National Parks or Forests, or Other Areas of
Scenic or Aesthetic Importance
• Threatened or Endangered Species
• Intentional Destructive Acts
• Is the project located in an area or designed in a manner that will attract
terrorism or vandalism?
• If the panels were vandalized would fluids or hazardous materials leak from an
opening?

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 Land Lease Agreements

Common Land Optional Land

Lease Lease
Requirements Requirements

Tax structure,
Duration of the Tower installation Responsibility for
Construction Transparency of renewable energy
contract and and removal surrounding Compensation Inflation clauses
timeline records credits and other
renewal period requirements infrastructure
incentives

Royalty or Combination of
•Fixed payments percentage of fixed revenue and Equity partnership
revenue royalty

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 Green-lighting
There are four primary drivers that will determine if a project is economically viable:
1. Capital cost
• How accessible is the land?
• Are upgrades required to neighboring roads?
• Are upgrades required to nearby transmission lines?
2. Annual energy production
• What are the average solar production?
• Direct Radiation?
• Diffuse Radiation?
3. Sale price for electricity
• What is the wholesale electricity price for the area? Are there benefits for
solar energy providers?
4. Financing options
• What policies will incentivize production?
• Feed-in tariffs, contracts for differences, etc.

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 Solar Construction Process

SITE MOUNTING ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL

PREPARATION STRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION COLLECTION

O&M BUILDING COMMERCIAL

OPERATION

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