The Earth’s population is not diminishing by any means. Natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate, and pollution is off the charts. One way people have begun to reduce their carbon footprint is by creating Tesla solar farms to produce and store energy. You may be wondering what a Tesla solar farm is and how you can own or invest in one?
A Tesla solar farm is a large plot of land that has been set up with acres of ground-mounted solar panels that gather and store energy in Powerpack batteries. These can be used to power an entire community, companies’ operational purposes, or sold to utility companies for power saving during peak hours.
Tesla solar farming is quickly becoming a popular way of gathering and storing renewable energy all over the globe. If you are interested in generating renewable energy by owning or investing in a Tesla solar farm, continue reading this helpful guide.
Entering into the World of Tesla Solar Farming
So you think you want to own a Tesla Solar farm? Owning a Tesla solar farm is a lot different than installing a traditional Tesla solar power system for your home. There are lots of important things to consider.
There is also an extreme amount of capital and planning that goes into starting a Tesla solar farm. If you are considering getting into the renewable energy business, you had better have plenty of money, time, and connections to your local utility companies and businesses.
Tesla Solar Farms and How They Work
The difference between a Tesla solar farm and a traditional farm is that traditional farming consists of working the land and growing what we need. Solar farming is the same thing, only instead of working the land, you have acres of ground-mounted solar panels in a field collecting valuable energy from the sun and converting it to the energy that we can use to power our lives.
The energy collected from the sun is converted and stored in massive Tesla powerwalls that can later be used in place of the grid. The resulting energy then can help with peak time costs and save energy. A Tesla powerwall is basically a behemoth battery that stores the sun’s energy.
This stored energy is then used by businesses and utility companies to power their operations. Solar farms have a piece of equipment called a solar tracking tower. This tower has a receiver that detects heat.
It is surrounded by a field of reflective devices called heliostats. They direct the sun rays toward the receiver. The solar tracking tower can follow the sun across the sky, which helps collect the most energy.
Starting a Tesla Solar Farm – The Planning Stage
Research. Research. Research. It is imperative that you have all the information you need to make an educated decision on whether or not to start a Tesla solar farm. Getting all of your ducks in a row before acting on your idea and making any major decisions will set you up for success.
With that in mind, you may be wondering what information you need to know before starting:
- Panels per acre. The first thing you need to know is how much money you will need to begin this endeavor. So to start, you need to determine what your solar panels will cost per acre.
- To go big or not. Next, you will need to decide how large you wish to go with your Tesla solar farm. Figure out how many acres you will need to house the solar array and all of the equipment needed to operate it and store the energy.
- What are local requirements? Every state/county has different laws and requirements that need to be met before you can begin your solar project. Get in touch with the utility company and your local government to find out what requirements or permits are needed for starting a Tesla solar farm in your area.
- Find out who wants part of the action. Do your research on possible investors to help you with this awesome task that you are taking on. Many individuals and large companies are willing to dish out the cash to start renewable energy projects.
- Think proactively. Try to make a list of any problems that you think you may encounter during this process and come up with ways to solve them before they even happen.
Get Professional Help With Your Planning
Once you have completed your research and have a general idea of what your big-picture plan needs to include, it is time to seek professional help. This is not mandatory but highly recommended.
Hire someone to create a business plan. Your business plan should give you an estimate of costs and return on investment over a ten-year span. In order to be a legitimate business, you need to be sure that you are legally registered as a business. Experts suggest that you consult a lawyer during this process to be sure you are doing everything correctly.
Purchasing the Perfect Property
Finding the right piece of land can be a difficult task. If you already have the capital and can afford it, purchasing the land is definitely the best way to go. If you are in the position where you will have to lease the land for your Tesla solar farm, it is imperative that you have a lease that is at least 30 years long.
The reason for this is so that you do not have to dismantle and remove your Tesla solar farm earlier than you want to if the owner decides that they want their land back. Just remember, leasing land is another expense that will need to be factored into your overall budget and business plan.
Procuring Development Proposals
Ok, you have your land. Now, what are you going to do? It is time to find the right contractor/developer to install your Tesla solar farm. There are certified Tesla installers and maintenance companies that can help install and keep your solar farm running in tip-top condition.
The best way to find which contractor/developer will perform best for you is to request multiple proposals from these companies and see which one will be the best option for you and your business.
Once you hire a company to operate/maintain your Tesla solar farm, you should stick with them (unless they are providing poor service). This is an important recommendation because getting too many management/maintenance companies involved can be confusing and messy.
Collaborating with Your Local Government
In almost every situation, you will be required to obtain some sort of permit. The permits required will vary from state to state, so you need to consult with your local government regarding the process.
In order to start your Tesla solar farm, you will typically be required to obtain permits for:
- Electrical
- Building
- Solar (PV)
The cost and permits required will depend on the size and location of your Tesla solar farm. You will need to decide whether you are going to be setting up a farm that is:
- Commercial sized
- Residential sized
- Utility-sized
Making Money from Your Tesla Solar Farm
Once your Tesla solar farm has been installed and inspected, you can connect to the grid via your local utility company. The utility company will pay you back for the excess energy produced at the end of the year.
For example, if you own a 15-acre Telsa solar farm, you can potentially earn around $40,000 per year. Tesla solar farms that cover hundreds of acres can have profits in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You may be wondering how long it will take for you to be paid back on your initial investment. The average ROI for a Tesla solar farm is typically around eight years, depending on your investment size.
Think Outside the Box – The Planter Box That Is
Another new and innovative way to make money with your Tesla solar farm is to plant pollinator-friendly plants underneath the panels. Doing this allows more pollinators to saturate the area and pollinate nearby crops. This helps everything grow and flourish. Healthier, more robust crops result in bigger profits.
In some cases, solar farmers are mounting their panels around eight feet off the ground and planting low lying vegetable crops below them. This offers multiple benefits to the land and surrounding community; the downside is that the crops will need to be harvested by hand.
If you own the land that your Tesla solar farm is on, it is possible to lease the land under your solar panels to farmers. This will allow you to collect an additional income to put toward the operational costs of owning a Tesla solar farm while also contributing to the local community’s farmer’s market.
There are those who argue that solar farms are causing deforestation and damage to the land. This type of crop-sharing process demonstrates how a Tesla solar farm can help the land and reduce the carbon footprint significantly when properly managed.
Insurance and Financial Maintenance
Another very important and commonly overlooked item is insurance. You need to protect yourself and your investment from any catastrophes that can potentially happen.
Whether you have damage to your equipment or if someone is hurt while on the job, you need to have insurance. Once again, do your research before jumping at the first quote you receive. Obtain multiple quotes, and be sure that each quote has ample coverage for your investment.
The following five companies are known for providing insurance to Tesla solar farmers:
Hiring a Financial Manager for a Tesla Solar Farm
Another good business decision is to hire a professional financial planner who is also a CPA. Finding someone familiar with Tesla solar farming costs and operations will be in your best interest. This will ensure that you are managing your money properly and getting the best return on your investment.
Tesla Solar Farms – Not Just a Hobby
Building a Tesla solar farm is a full-time business that needs to be treated as such. You are entering into a world of renewable energy that can positively impact the community and environment surrounding you. A Tesla solar farm can last up to 40 years or longer if taken care of properly. Keep this in mind when purchasing or leasing your land.
When considering becoming a Tesla solar farmer, you need to remember that you are providing a service/product that everyone needs. Depending on the size of the Tesla solar farm you decide to set up, you can potentially provide energy to a lot of local businesses in addition to supplying your own energy needs.
More Ways of Investing in Tesla Solar Farm Project
If you don’t have the capital, time, or motivation to take on a full-blown project like owning a Tesla solar farm, there are alternative ways that you can have a horse in the race to renewable energy.
If you like the idea of creating energy that is better for the planet and making money while you do it, then you may consider the following options as ways to get involved in the Tesla solar energy movement.
Investing in Stocks
Purchasing stocks in companies that are invested in renewable energy is the option that requires the least effort. Let your money go to work for you.
Do your research first, and be sure to invest in reputable companies such as Brookfield Renewable Partners or Tesla. Whichever company you choose to go with, you will be sure to have a good ROI because renewable energy is the way of the future.
Leasing Your Unused Land
Put your unused or under-used land to work for you without lifting a finger. Many individuals are now leasing their land to Tesla solar farm developers. Before you decide to lease your land for this purpose, you need to do a few things first.
- Be sure that your land has easy access to roadways and grid connection points.
- Consider the fact that most Tesla solar farm leases are a minimum of 20-50 years. If you aren’t planning on using your land in the future, this won’t be an issue. If you don’t want a long-term lease like this, then leasing your land may not be the best option for you.
- Consult with your local government to see if your land meets the qualifications for a Tesla solar farm.
- Have your land inspected by a professional Tesla solar contractor/developer to ensure that your land meets the requirements needed to house a Tesla solar farm. If your land does not meet the requirements, you have to decide if you have the capital to make the necessary changes to make your land a feasible option for a Tesla solar farm.
Partnering with Other Investors
If you still want to pursue a Tesla solar farm’s ownership but do not have the capital, it is possible to take on other investors as partners to build your farm together. This way, you can still have a positive influence on the environment and the energy industry while you make money at the same time.
If you choose to go with this option, you need to have all of your facts before making any kind of presentation to potential investors for your Tesla solar farm project. Be sure to follow all of the steps in the Starting a Tesla Solar Farm – The Planning Stage section of this article so that you can present a well-thought-out proposal to your potential investors. Prove to them why they should invest in your renewable energy project.
Working in the Renewable Energy Industry
Perhaps you wish to learn more about the Tesla solar power industry. The best way to learn the ins and outs of a business is to work in different areas of that industry to really learn how things are done and why they are done that way.
You can:
- Become employed as an installer
- Work in the office
- Learn the industry’s business aspects
- Become a sales representative for the contractors
Once you have worked for an independent Tesla solar developer for a while, you may decide to re-visit the option of owning and operating your own Tesla solar farm.
Decentralized Renewable Energy Controversy
There is some controversy between individuals on whether or not centralized energy is a good thing. As mentioned before, there are some people that have the mistaken opinion that centralized Tesla solar farms cause deforestation and harm to the land.
They also argue that if a disaster and the centralized unit are damaged, everyone who uses that unit will be out of power. The issue with that argument is that unless you have Tesla powerwalls to store your unused energy at home, you will still be without power if the grid goes down.
Smaller Scale Options for Tesla Solar Power
If the monumental task of owning a centralized Tesla solar farm is simply not something that you can tackle, there are smaller-scale ways of being a part of the Tesla solar movement.
Tesla offers many options for roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar power systems. More recently, they have begun to offer solar roof tiles in place of the traditional solar energy system.
Maintaining a Tesla Solar Farm
Congratulations! You have finally completed your Tesla solar farm project, and you are ready to start collecting and storing renewable energy. You may be wondering how you will maintain your Tesla solar farm to keep it running optimally.
The following list describes ways to maintain your solar farm for the best results properly:
- Be sure that electrical enclosures are secured from unauthorized personnel
- Be sure no loose wires are hanging anywhere
- Check for corrosion on outside enclosures and the ground-mounts
- Clean solar panels when necessary
- Erosion around the ground-mounts
- Grass and weed control
- Keep animal infestations under control
- Keep inverter clear of debris
- Perform daily, weekly and monthly cleaning and monitoring of equipment and property
- Prevent and monitor possible damage from storms
- Prevent and repair any transformer leakage
- Prevent and repair damage from vandalism
- Repair damaged conduit as needed
- Use remote monitoring to check for shorted cells and other potential issues
The Top States for Solar Power
As of 2018, California produces the most solar energy; they create enough energy to power a whopping 5.4 million homes!
Below is a list of states that are ranked top in the country for the use of solar energy:
- California
- North Carolina
- Arizona
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
- Texas
- Utah
- Georgia
- Florida
The Future of Tesla Solar Farms
As of 2019, the United States had over 2,500 commercial/utility-sized solar farms. In 2021, there are major plans to start developing projects targeted to be completed over a five-year span, with more expected within ten years.
The cost of these projects is nothing to sneeze at. They are expecting costs to rise up-to or above 58 billion dollars before these projects are completed. Over the next ten years, the following states are expected to spend the most money on the solar industry:
- California
- Nevada
- New York
- Texas
- Virginia
5 Commonly Asked Tesla Solar Farm Questions
How do I obtain the equipment for a Tesla solar farm?
You can order your equipment directly through Tesla, or you have the option of hiring an independent solar contractor/developer to help you with this process.
Hiring a professional who has experience setting up a Tesla solar farm is the recommended way to get your equipment and supplies. These professionals have the knowledge to get you the proper equipment for your Tesla solar farm. They are accustomed to dealing with the local government and utility companies for getting the proper permissions and permits.
It is important that you do your research before hiring a company to handle your operations. Obtain quotes from multiple developers before settling on the first one you come across.
How much land is needed for a Tesla solar farm?
For example, a standard guide to go by is that for every 1kW of Tesla solar panels, you will need an area of land that is approximately 2.5 acres. This is just for the solar panels.
Once you factor in the equipment needed to operate and maintain the solar array, you will be looking at around 4.5 acres of land for every 1kW of solar energy.
A Tesla solar farm that puts out 1MW of solar power requires a minimum of 15 acres of farmland, and a Tesla solar farm that is built for utility companies can expand upon hundreds of acres of land.
What does it cost to start a Tesla solar farm?
It can cost a minimum of one million dollars to get a solar farm up and running. There are some ways to save money by taking advantage of state and federal grants and tax rebate programs. However, you still better be ready to make a major investment to get your renewable energy project started.
What type of location and terrain is needed for a Tesla solar farm?
Location, location, location! Finding the ideal location to start a solar farm can be a little more difficult than you may think. For starters, you need to be sure that the property in question is in close proximity to the road and areas where the grid has connection points.
The cost of running new roads and electrical power lines to connect to the grid can be quite large. It is imperative that no objects such as trees or tall buildings can cast shadows on your solar array. You want land that has a lot of exposure to the sunlight throughout the entire year.
Watch Out for Water Waste
In some situations, the land has to be cleared of trees or large boulders to house your solar array properly. This can also be a considerable cost that needs to be factored in before deciding to start a Tesla solar farm.
It is also important to consider the fact that you will require a lot of water to keep the turbines cool and the solar panels clean. Some argue that this can harm the environment because you will be depleting the natural resources. Consider finding ways to recycle the water you use to avoid wastage.
If you really want to help the environment and don’t want to have to clear land or disrupt natural habitats, you can potentially repurpose abandoned industrial complexes or an old airstrip as another option for starting your Tesla solar farm. Due to our country’s continuously growing population, quality usable land is becoming more difficult to acquire.
Who can own a Tesla solar farm?
A Tesla solar farm can be owned and operated by anyone. If you have the money, time, and connections to the local consumers, you are in the right position to start constructing a Tesla solar farm.
The Rewards of Owning a Tesla Solar Farm
Becoming a Tesla solar farm owner can be extremely rewarding for you, your community, and the environment. Conducting the proper research and having your plans well thought out will ensure that you are successful in your mission to create and provide renewable energy to the community and businesses that surround you.