THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE DEVELOPING A SOLAR FARM
QUALITY OF THE TERRAIN
Sloped land, excessively rocky or sandy terrain, uneven land, etc. can all significantly add to the cost of installing a solar farm.
LOCAL WEATHER FACTORS
Desert conditions often coincide with excessive dust fall, flooding and flash flooding, high erosion, etc, and these can limit the viability of a site and in many cases can make a site non-viable.
PROXIMITY TO HIGH TRANSMISSION CAPACITY LINES
One of the biggest hidden costs of a solar farm is the distance required to connect a system to high voltage lines capable of carrying the excess production.
The costs of even a few extra kilometers can completely destroy the profitability of a solar farm.
LOCAL TRANSMISSION CAPACITY
In many places, power grids are not able to handle the excess capacity that a solar farm would introduce. This has been a persistent problem in California, Spain, Ontario and the Middle East, and has led to hundreds of projects being cancelled or delayed indefinitely.
CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ISSUES
Large tracts of undeveloped land too often coincide with sensitive or protected areas or protected species. Often the presence of a single protected species of plant or animal can halt or completely alter the development plans for a farm.
AGRICULTURAL CONCERNS
Most government agencies responsible for agriculture do not want to see farmers paving over their fields with solar panels.
LOCAL REGULATIONS AND OWNERSHIP
It is surprising the number of issues that can arise, even in a friendly regulatory framework. Objections from the FAA or the military over concerns with reflections interfering with pilot’s vision or ground construction causing problems with radar installations, construction permits and agricultural land limits on a site are examples of regulations that can effect a site.
Further, although this depends on local factors, land ownership of the solar farm land itself, or the right of way required for construction access and/or connection to high voltage transmission can severely complicate factors, especially when previously “worthless” land is suddenly perceived as valuable.
LAND PRICES RISE QUICKLY
Generally, solar farm developments tend to happen regionally, where several projects appear in quick succession. The surprising limits to viable sites discussed above, combined with the high costs of developing solar farms tends to lead to higher land prices, higher property taxes and in worst cases, land speculation.
