Solar power is grabbing the attention of farmers and landowners across the country. 

After all, solar is being hailed as the new ‘cash crop,’ offering far superior returns than traditional items like corn or soybeans. (Just Google ‘solar panels cash crop’ and you’ll see what I mean).  

So, if you own a large piece of land should you be looking to harvest solar power on your property? And if yes, how should you go about starting one? We’ll tell you what exactly constitutes a solar farm, how much they cost, and how you would go about starting one. 

What is a solar farm?

Solar farms are large-scale, ground-mounted solar installations. They use photovoltaic (PV) panels or other means of collecting solar energy, like concentrating solar systems, to harness the sun’s power. 

Solar farms are also known as ‘solar parks,’ ‘solar plants’ and ‘solar power stations.’ They operate as power plants, just like the fossil-fueled power plants that have generated electricity for consumers for the last century.

They’re different from rooftop solar systems and even commercial solar power systems in a number of important ways.

• Solar farms take advantage of economies of scale, meaning, by placing large orders for solar panels and other equipment, project developers can purchase the equipment for less.
• Solar power stations can also be located in a more ideal location that’s free from issues like shading from trees.
• 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. 

Large-scale solar will continue to get cheaper as developers of solar farms find more ways to reduce financing costs and equipment costs keep coming down. Expect to see many more solar farms, and even bigger ones, in the near future.