Do large-scale solar projects cost more than residential solar?

In addition, large-scale solar projects accrue fewer of these soft costs per unit of installed capacity compared to rooftop systems. As a result, the total cost for a given amount of solar in large projects is on average half that of residential solar, even with added costs such as mounting structures and engineering.

Are large-scale solar systems a part of the Solar Revolution?

While rooftop solar is the most visible piece of the solar revolution, large-scale systems have been a major part of PV’s growth in recent years. Large-scale PV systems accounted for more than half of all solar capacity installed from 2010 to 2014, with overall capacity quadrupling from 2012 to 2014 [ 3 ].

Do large-scale solar projects occupy a lot of land?

Large-scale solar projects can present challenges, however, with regard to the land area that they occupy—challenges common to all large construction projects. To produce enough electricity to make a large-scale system viable a project may need several acres of land for each megawatt of installed solar capacity [ 13 ].

What is a large-scale solar project?

Like rooftop solar, large-scale PV projects use photovoltaic cells arranged into panels. But while a rooftop system may consist of dozens of panels, a single large-scale project may have hundreds of thousands or even millions. For example, the 290 MW Agua Caliente project in Yuma County, AZ, involves 4.9 million solar panels [ 1 ].

How do you manage large-scale solar?

As solar penetration increases, new practices, technologies and market mechanisms are needed to maintain reliability. Common solutions include upgraded transmission lines, energy storage, and regional coordination. Managing the intermittency and distributed nature of large-scale solar remains an evolving challenge.

How many solar panels does a large-scale solar power plant have?

A large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant may have hundreds of thousands or even millions of solar panels. Like rooftop solar, large-scale PV projects use photovoltaic cells arranged into panels. But while a rooftop system may consist of dozens of panels, a single large-scale project may have hundreds of thousands or even millions.