Technology
A solar farm is a large-scale installation of solar panels (photovoltaic modules) in one location, designed to generate electricity for the grid or for a large electricity buyer. Also called a solar park or utility-scale solar project, it typically uses rows of ground-mounted photovoltaic modules across multiple acres. Projects may use fixed-tilt racking or solar trackers, and some pair generation with battery storage. A solar farm earns revenue by selling electricity, commonly through a long-term power purchase agreement, a utility program, or the wholesale power market. Its investment performance depends on more than sunlight: construction cost, interconnection, equipment reliability, operating expenses, financing, taxes, contract terms, and the credit quality of the buyer all affect project cash flow. Solar farms can range from small community solar projects to facilities with hundreds of megawatts of capacity.