Utility Scale Solar

Large Solar Arrays for the Electric Grid

Powering Communities with Clean Energy

Our team has installed 3 gigawatts total of our utility scale solar projects throughout the U.S. We can work in a variety of partnership models and structure projects development agreements in both distributed-scale and transmission-scale markets. The largest solar farms offer the most effective alternative power to traditional coal power plants, so we partner with utilities to facilitate the sourcing of electricity for entire cities and make the switch to clean energy.

Serving Landowners

Landowners have an incredible opportunity to make money off their property by joining the clean energy sector. Landowners maintain ownership, and we will pay you to have a utility scale solar power farm built on your land.

Grid Scale solar farms can range in size, from 500 acres to 3,000 acres. Our landowner partnership agreements can include between 10 and 100 landowners per solar farm project.

Collaborating with Investors

Our most ambitious and impactful solar developers and projects require the most resources and expenditures. We've been fortunate to have the support of various investors with the desire to fund thousands of megawatts of grid-scale solar farms across the United States.

Investors play a key role in maintaining the momentum of these large projects, as their timelines can range from four to six years from conception to finalization stages.

Your Partner in Building Solar Power Stations

ESA is a full-service land company that creates utility-scale solar power stations by building relationships with landowners across the United States. We have a deep understanding of the land development process and a proven track record of success in siting, permitting, and developing solar power stations.

We work with landowners to find the best locations for solar generation, considering factors such as solar irradiance, land use restrictions, and transmission line access. We then complete all on-site due diligence and obtain the necessary land use permits. Once the project is permitted, we partner with long-term owner operators to build and operate the solar power station.

We also develop solar power stations on behalf of other Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Operators. We work with our clients to understand their specific goals and objectives, and we develop a customized solution that meets their needs.

Here are some of the benefits of working with ESA Solar as a landowner:

If you are a landowner interested in developing a solar power station on your property, please contact ESA Solar today.

We have a deep understanding of the land development process and a proven track record of success in siting, permitting, and developing solar power stations.

We offer a comprehensive range of services, from land acquisition to project completion.

We are committed to building long-term relationships with landowners.

We offer competitive financial terms and conditions.

Grid Scale Services

Market Analysis

Site Evaluation

Direct Marketing Landowners

Landowner Relationship Management

Contract Negotiations for Land Leases, Purchase Agreements and Easements

Title Work

Stakeholder Engagement, Community Meetings and Educational Outreach

Management of Planning and Zoning Processes

Coordination of Surveyors, Consultants and Engineering

Property Tax Abatements and Economic Development

In-house Single Line Diagrams and Preparation of Interconnection Application

Interconnection Feasibility and Analysis

Common Questions About Utility Scale Solar

What is utility-scale solar energy?

Utility-scale solar power is electricity produced from large-scale photovoltaic solar installations of 5 MW or more. These large solar power plants produce enough renewable energy to power electric utility grids and offset the carbon emissions of traditional power plants, such as natural gas or other fossil fuels.

What makes utility-scale different from community solar?

Utility-scale solar farms are large solar installations that generate hundreds of megawatts (MW) of electricity.

They are typically owned and operated by utility companies or independent power producers (IPPs), and the electricity they generate is fed into the grid and distributed to all customers of the utility company.

Community solar farms are much smaller, generating anywhere from a few hundred kilowatts (kW) to a few MW of electricity.

They are typically owned by a variety of entities, including nonprofits, cooperatives, and businesses. Subscribers purchase shares in the project and receive bill credits from their utility company based on the amount of electricity generated by their share of the solar project.

What is the average size of a utility-scale solar project?

The average size and capacity of a utility-scale solar project has been increasing in recent years.

In 2022, the average utility-scale solar project in the United States was 64 MWAC, up from 53 MWAC in 2020.

However, there is a wide range in the size of utility-scale solar projects. Some projects are as small as 5 MWAC, while others are over 1 GWAC.

The largest solar project in the world, the Bhadla Solar Park in India, has a capacity of 2.25 GWAC.

Utility-scale solar capacity is determined by a number of factors, including the availability of land, the cost of solar panels, and the demand for electricity. In general, larger projects are more efficient and have lower costs per watt.

What is the cost of building a utility scale solar system?

The cost of building a utility-scale solar system has decreased significantly in recent years, making it one of the most affordable sources of new electricity generation.

The average cost of utility-scale solar in the United States in 2022 was $0.89 per watt, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

However, the actual cost can vary depending on a number of factors, including, the size and location of the project, the type of solar panels and other equipment used, the cost of land and labor, and the availability of government incentives.

The cost of utility-scale solar is expected to continue to decline in the coming years, making it an even more attractive option for new electricity generation.

What is the difference between utility-scale and distributed generation?

Utility-scale generation is large and centralized, while distributed generation is small and dispersed.

In the Utility-scale solar sector, projects are typically owned by utilities and large companies, while distributed generators can be owned by individuals, commercial businesses, or other organizations.

Distributed generation can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, and improve the reliability of the electrical grid.

The best type of generation for a particular area will depend on a number of factors, including the availability of land and resources, the needs of the community, and the cost of electricity.

Utility-scale solar energy technologies are typically ground mounted, meaning that the solar panels are installed on the ground.

Distributed solar projects, on the other hand, can have ground-mounted solar modules, roof-mounted, or carport-mounted solar panels.

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