What land should you choose for photovoltaics?
The success of a renewable energy project depends mainly on the selection of the right property, which should provide appropriate conditions for the operation of photovoltaic panels. Appropriate infrastructure necessary to carry out assembly work is equally important. What features should an ideal plot for photovoltaics have? Here are the five most important attributes:
1. Plot for photovoltaics: adequately sunny
For solar panels to achieve maximum efficiency, they should face south to benefit from the sun's rays for the longest time. Therefore, land for photovoltaics with a flat topography or one that slopes towards the south will be ideal.
When choosing a suitable plot for photovoltaics, you should also pay attention to the close proximity. Trees, tall buildings and wind farms cause shading of the area, which will reduce the efficiency of the entire installation. The best location for photovoltaics will be wasteland in agricultural areas or investment plots located in larger cities. You can learn more about the latter from the article: Investment plot – what does it mean?
2. Land for photovoltaics - low soil quality and wasteland
When it comes to the allocation of agricultural plots for renewable energy installations, Polish law approaches this issue quite rigorously. Land with high soil quality class (I-III) is under legal protection - it is intended exclusively for agricultural activities. Photovoltaic farms can be built on plots with a lower soil quality class and on wasteland, provided that they meet certain requirements (more on them below).
Photovoltaic farms are a profitable business for companies that "escape" from big cities to the countryside. You can read more about the advantages of moving your company to a province on our blog .
3. Areas for photovoltaics with appropriate provisions in the local plan
The mentioned conditions are provisions in the local development plan that allow the construction of a photovoltaic farm in a given area. This planning document - adopted by the council of a given commune - specifies the purpose and development conditions of real estate located within it. The procedure for adopting a plan is long, which is why many local governments do not have this strategic document. In such a situation, the investor should apply to the district office for issuance of development conditions for the plot of interest.
4. Plot for a photovoltaic farm: large and wide enough
Technical considerations dictate the minimum plot area for photovoltaics. The panels should be arranged in such a way that they do not obscure each other. It is assumed that an area of at least 2 ha is needed to build a 1MW installation. In turn, the preferred width of the plot is at least 50 meters, which allows access to individual panels and maintains the optimal distance to the plot border.
5. Area for photovoltaics with appropriate infrastructure
This aspect of choosing the right plot for photovoltaics is dictated by economic reasons. The plot, which is accessed by a paved road, reduces investment costs because the expenses related to providing access to it are eliminated. Such a property is also a great logistical convenience - it facilitates the transport of installation elements and their assembly.
Proximity to the power grid is another feature of an ideal plot for photovoltaics. It is assumed that the distance between the RES installation and the connection point should be a maximum of 500 meters. Unfortunately, with each additional meter, the investment cost increases significantly.
Plots for photovoltaics - offers for sale
Photovoltaic plots can be found in the Orange real estate offer. These are areas that have all the above-mentioned features of an ideal plot for a renewable energy installation. These areas are located in various parts of Poland and constitute investment land and agricultural wasteland. More information about plots for photovoltaics (offers for sale) can be found at: https://www.zdrowieosci.orange.pl/szczegoly_ogloczenia/1962/0