Do utility-scale ground-mounted solar plants use land?

Subject This report covers data and analysis of the land use associated with utility-scale ground-mounted solar facilities, defined as installations greater than 1 MW. We begin by discussing standard land-use metrics as established in the life-cycle assessment literature and then discuss their applicability to solar power plants.

How much land does a solar power plant need?

A utility-scale solar power plant may require between 5 and 7 acres per megawatt (MW) of generating capacity. Like fossil fuel power plants, solar plant development requires some grading of land and clearing of vegetation.

Are utility-scale photovoltaic plants affecting land-use impacts?

Abstract—The rapid deployment of large numbers of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) plants in the United States, combined with heightened expectations of future deployment, has raised concerns about land requirements and associated land-use impacts.

What are the two types of solar plant land use?

We identify two major classes of solar plant land use—direct impact (disturbed land due to physical infrastructure development) and total area (all land enclosed by the site boundary)—by which we categorize subsequent results. Section 3 describes our solar land-use data collection and analysis methods.

How much land use does a PV system need?

4.2 We assume the capacity-weighted average land-use requirements (as reported in Table 4) for PV systems smaller than 20 MW when evaluating the impact of tracking arrays: 5.5 acres/MWac for fixed-tilt systems, 6.3 acres/MWac for 1-axis tracking systems, and 9.4 acres/MWac for 2-axis tracking systems.

How much energy does a utility-scale solar power plant need?

Research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that the entire U.S. could be powered by utility-scale solar occupying just 0.6% of the nation’s land mass. A utility-scale solar power plant may require between 5 and 7 acres per megawatt (MW) of generating capacity.