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0 pointstopkai223y ago0 comments

Mostly because it gets it installed.

I’m vaguely attached to a utility scale deal trying to happen. The land owners are interested, the utility is interested, and there isn’t much around the site. Still the details might kill the deal- they can’t agree where the HV lines will run, the utility wants a bit more land than the owners want to lease, access details and liability concerns are coming up, etc…

Utility scale solar is the future but rooftop solar gets installed NOW because each deal is simpler.

Now why my utility isn’t building out solar fields in the massive amounts of land they own around their coal and oil fired plants…

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ncmncm3y ago

Maybe you can help steer the project toward a dual use of a reservoir or pasture.

When you don't have to pay rent on land, you don't need to pack the panels cheek by jowl. Pasture doesn't normally generate much revenue, per acre, and it tends to be all at once, so something producing year-round is a welcome buffer. The livestock keep down weeds and benefit from shelter, so are healthier.

On water, the panels are kept cool and therefore both notably more efficient, but also last much longer. Nobody knows yet how much longer. They cut evaporation and biofouling.

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