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With minimal effort and disruption to other operations on the property, a solar farm land lease may provide landowners and their family a reliable, predictable source of income for many years by putting underutilized land to use and producing extra revenue as a solar farm project. Although the revenue from solar farms may not first appear impressive, it is stable and pays off over time, much like many wise investments. 

A solar farm's potential profitability depends on a variety of variables. The essential aspects that affect how much money a solar farm can produce can differ depending on the project, but generally speaking, the ones listed below are the most crucial. 

Land Size: Typically, 1 kW may be installed every 100 square feet of land. A good solar farm needs at least 10 acres of clean, flat ground, however, most developers can start with as little as one acre. Locations under 30 acres often attract a greater price per acre due to variables including electrical infrastructure and landowner risk and profit.

Annual Sunlight: A solar farm project needs a lot of sunshine each year and impediments on the land may cause shadows which lower the project's potential. Smaller barriers can typically be removed while bigger barriers could be too expensive to remove.

Grid proximity: Access to the grid and the availability of infrastructure are crucial components in the development of solar farms. A project must be within 1,000 feet of three-phase power and no more than two miles from a substation for it to proceed.

Soil Quality: As previously mentioned, developers are looking for clear, level terrain with a maximum slope of 5 degrees and no marshes. 

 Although there is no official definition, the term ‘solar farm’ most often refers to a large-scale solar PV project which generates energy and then sends that energy to the grid for distribution. Solar farms may also be known by other names including ‘solar plants,’ ‘solar parks’ or ‘solar power stations.’ 

Both the local community and the landowner who leases their property can benefit greatly from solar farms.

Clean Energy: Solar farms offer clean, renewable energy that lessens the need for fossil fuels, which pollute the environment and release harmful pollutants.

Steady Income: A solar land lease ensures that the landowner will have a consistent stream of revenue for the term of the lease, which is generally 25 years.

Community Benefit: Residents in the area immediately benefit from new tax income generated by solar farms since local governments may utilize it to enhance community services and lower tax rates.

A ground-mounted solar farm typically takes 3 months to build (per 2 MW DC), according to the conventional standard. Solar module and racking installation goes quickly, however electrical contracting takes more time. When assessing the project schedule, it's crucial to bear in mind that it can take local utilities some time to acquire the necessary equipment for connections. A smooth, effective construction process will be greatly aided by the piece of land being completely clear and level. 

The name itself contains the key information: a utility-scale solar farm and a community solar farm differ in terms of scale. Utility-scale solar farms can be anywhere between 1 MW and 2,000 MW in capacity, whereas community solar farms are typically under 5 MW in size and, in rare circumstances, even as little as 100 kW. Utility-scale solar farms add to the energy mix of a utility company, whereas community solar farms often serve subscribers who pay for a share of the power it produces.

Currently, the biggest solar farm in the United States is the Copper Mountain Solar Facility in Boulder City, Nevada, with a total capacity of 802 MW.