Solar Farms

The term solar farm is not unfamiliar to most people. However, many have never seen a solar farm, nor do they really understand what they are and how they benefit humans and the planet. These facilities are increasing in popularity due to the overall annual growth rate of solar energy, which is an impressive and exciting 49%. Today, the solar power being fed into the grid is capable of sustaining nearly 16 million homes, so the general public needs to know more about these fantastic farms and how they can help save our planet.

What Is A Solar Farm?

While a solar farm looks nothing like a traditional farm that produces corn, cows, or chickens, it provides an equally vital service for society. These farms are massive groups of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that capture energy from the sun. The panel then converts the sun’s energy into electricity that is sent into the grid to power homes and businesses across the country.

The Two Variations Of Solar Farms

When you envision a solar farm, you likely think of the colossal farms that can be seen from the highways of the United States and stretch well beyond your line of sight. These are called utility-scale solar farms, and they include thousands of panels that collect the sun’s energy and convert it to electricity. The capacity of these solar farms is huge, so they use high-voltage power lines to distribute the electricity into the grid. 

The smaller version of solar farms is called community solar farms, and they generate only a fraction of the power created by utility-scale farms. As the name implies, community solar farms generate power for local houses and businesses. The power produced in the community solar farm is then shared among the homes and businesses that have elected to participate in the program.

Is It Risky To Depend On A Community Solar Farm?

It is vital for consumers to understand that if they join a community solar farm program, they are not being removed from the grid, nor will they lose access to the standard power supply coming from their local electricity provider. Instead, they have access to savings on their energy bills after buying into the community solar farm. The energy produced by the solar panels that are located in the community is fed into the grid. The members of the community solar farm will see a reduction in their energy bills based on their share of the energy produced by the farm. 

The benefit of the community solar farm is that you are harnessing the sun to reduce the cost of your electricity. However, you are not solely dependent on the solar farm and will not be left with no power at your home or business if there is an issue with the solar farm, it is undergoing maintenance or upgrades, or there is a lack of sunlight to allow the solar panels to generate electricity. 

To learn more about going green by harnessing the power of the sun, please reach out to the knowledgeable team at Solar Group. We are excited to share these great money saving and environmentally conscious opportunities with you. For more than a decade, this team has been a part of the growth of the solar energy industry and it is now working diligently to make it accessible and affordable for all households and businesses.