If you are discussing a solar farm project it is very important understand the difference between alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) voltage. Solar panel nameplate voltage is designated as DC (direct current). Electric company line voltage is designated as AC (alternating current). In rare cases electric utility company line voltage can be designated as direct current.

Since solar energy panels are specified in direct current, and utility programs are in alternating current (AC), it is important to realize how to translate dc into AC (alternating current). The general rule is to multiply the total direct current (DC) watts by 0.85 to arrive at AC (alternating current) level.

In California there are several programs that solar farms can participate in. After much study, Commercial Solar Design has determined that the two most effective solar farm sizes are three MW and twenty megawatt. California legislation provides solar farm projects up to 3MW AC (alternating current) with a guaranteed interconnection or a must-buy for investor-owned utilities. Another program; a RAM (reverse auction mechanism) allows for solar farms up to 20 megawatts AC.

Whilst planning on a solar farm you needs to decide on whether to employ a fixed ground mount or single axis tracker solar panel array. Commercial solar design supports single axis tracker designs because the increased expense of single-axis tracker is canceled out by the increased returns generated. The solar farm investment community has an interest in maximizing development ROI which single axis trackers deliver.

One also needs to look at acreage use intended for solar farms. A 1 MWp block AC (alternating current) using single axis trackers on flat land in Central California will be around 805 ft long by 392 ft wide. In case you have several MW blocks, spacing, service roads, setbacks together with other considerations, 1MW alternating current (AC) occupies approx. 7 acres.

Whenever you are planning on a solar farm investment you ought to focus on acreage and shape to accommodate either a 3MW or 20MW alternating current (AC) solar farm project. This means either a twenty one acre or one hundred and forty acre parcel.

Another aspect to consider regards conditional use permitting (CUP). Most locations aren't appropriate for solar farm projects on account of countless things including; Williamson Act, neighborhood questions, lack of a provision for solar farms in the general plan, land is blanketed with trees and shrubs and permit isn't going to be granted for clear cutting, property is within a 100 yr floodplain, lack of capacity on existing power lines, too out of the way to reach the existing power lines, a community already saturated with solar farm energy, not in an IOU territory, a lot of other reasons. Commercial Solar Design specializes in solar farm projects and will help you evaluate if your solar farm project is feasible.

In case you believe you've got a parcel suitable for solar farming, now is the perfect time so you can get moving on designing your undertaking. Having said that solar farms are never inexpensive. A good solar farm investment can return 15% or over. There is actually a Federal government grant to repay 30% of the project's entire price tag. The balance is split between 35 percent equity position and 35 percent loans. Commercial Solar Design has crafted a very worthwhile program for landowners who were not able to offer 35% equity. Opportunities abound but you need to proceed quickly to take advantage prior to when others fill up the capacity allotted to solar farm developments.

California Energy Commission Allows The Very First Solar Farm Thermal Project In 2 Decades With Beacon Solar Energy Company
Beacon Solar Energy plans to develop and maintain the 250-megawatt Beacon Solar Energy solar thermal farm along the western border within the Mojave Desert. Beacon Solar Energy initially requested permission in '08.

Agricultural Business Owners Enjoy A Unique Solar Panel Products Lease Program Via A Special Agricultural Program.
Leases in the solar farming financing industry give you the best rates. A solar lease allows you to own your own power production in ten years, and during the term of the lease, you are cash flow positive.

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The state of California conducted a solar resource assessment and found that the solar farm potential, is over 16,000,000 MW. Put another way, California requires less than 1% (0.32%) of its land dedicated to solar farm generators to achieve self-sufficiency from solar farm sites.

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Recent Press Releases Relating To Solar Farming Alternative Power Initiatives
Solar farms are becoming big business and 2010 is showing a lot of activity in this sector. The goal for California alone this decade is 30 gigawatts by 2020. This is enough renewable energy to power between 5 and 6 million homes in the state of California.