One question we’re asked repeatedly by yard owners or managers: Should they consider adding solar to unused land attached to their yard. By solar, people mean the panel installations you see tucked into small unused plots of land that abut roads, interstates, and farms. Solar installations can also be found on capped landfills.
Adding a solar installation sounds good. Similar to adding solar panels to your home’s roof, the upside means you pay less for electricity and can charge your EV, should you own one. It also means you can store what you don’t use or sell your electricity to the local utility. Win-win-win.
But, installing solar on unused land in your recycling yard involves several considerations, including the acreage you have available, if it’s suitable for an installation, and if the ROI is greater than the start-up costs and ongoing maintenance.
Most important is your location. If you live in the Northeast, you’ll have to contend with shorter days in winter, snow, clouds, etc. Or, you live in a state that (so far) has few solar installations but could use the energy yours would generate.
Consideration #1: Do you have the acreage required?
According to Lumify Energy, “. . . a solar farm requires around 25 acres of land for every 5 megawatts (MW) of installation capacity. A minimum of 10 acres is considered the industry standard for smaller projects (around 1 MW). You’ll also need to take into account that panels should only cover part of the parcel area under planning regulations.” (Source)
A one megawatt hour supplies the equivalent of 1,000,000 watts or 1,000 kilowatts (kW) an hour. How many watts a solar panel produces depends on various factors, including the panel wattage and climate factors, such as sunlight, wind, and temperature.
Another calculation to consider is how much electricity your state generates from solar installations, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association®.
Their interactive map shows how many households are supported per megawatt of power by state. As you can see, California leads the way with 275 — versus South Dakota at 114. (View the map and website)
Consideration #2: What is the environmental impact of the installation?
Because solar installations require large land use, the installations come under a lot of scrutiny.
- Will the installation impact wildlife and plant species?
- Does the location abut a farm or natural waterway?
- How will the installation impact soil quality and the surrounding ecosystem over time?
Your best bet is to find a knowledgeable company or organization to help you navigate this process — and to help you work through your local, state, and Federal regulations. For example, SELT, a non-profit in New Hampshire that conserves land, worked with ReVision Energy for its solar installation. You can learn more about Community Solar at the ReVision website.
Consideration #3: What’s the potential ROI?
We asked a solar installation specialist for specific numbers. He said it’s hard to get specifics because it depends on multiple variables: The scale of the project, the rate structure for the location, land costs, and proximity to utility infrastructure vary so much, the economics of any project can swing quite a bit.
He also added some insider advice. “If a project is pitched by a solar developer, the goal is to keep costs in check, so they’ll bundle project costs or string together a portfolio of projects. The developer has to show attractive returns to move a project forward. Your land lease or other compensation will be ‘appropriately proportioned’ among project costs.”
He advises that you consider doing some of the project development yourself once your power utility is fully invested in getting solar projects running — especially if grant or rebate money is available to cover the development costs or carry the project through.
“Without these grants,” he adds, “projects do not spontaneously get done.”
Otherwise, the driver of a project is the economic beneficiary of the project. If your recycling facility can benefit from providing a portion of its own power and storing it or selling off peak power back to the utility via net metering, then consider doing it yourself.
Also keep in mind that due to project scope, you may require financing. You’ll also have to consider tax rates, any state rebates, electric rates, and the number of years your solar system will be in service.
Have you added a solar installation? Let us know — we’d love to feature a write-up of your experience here on the blog.
