By Jack Shaw, senior writer and editor at Modded
Solar is the most abundant renewable energy source, which is why sustainability-driven business owners gravitate toward it. Green-minded entrepreneurs consider solar farming key to saving on energy costs and achieving their environmental, social and governance goals. However, myths about large-scale photovoltaic (PV) panel installation projects spread as fast as the interest in solar power grows, causing leaders to think twice about adopting it.
Will solar energy help you reduce electricity expenses and build a sustainable brand, or are its benefits overstated? Discover the truth behind every pervasive misperception to separate fact from fiction.
Common Misconceptions About Solar Farming
Executives who are apprehensive about embracing solar poorly understand the impact, utility, requirements and cost of commercial PV systems. The following erroneous beliefs typically fuel unwarranted doubts.
Solar Farms Are a Net Negative Environmentally
Naysayers argue that generating clean, green and renewable energy isn’t enough to eclipse the negative environmental effects of mass-producing PV panels. Critics say that solar farming does more harm to the planet than good because:
- PV modules use raw materials derived from virgin resources, which require mining practices that damage ecological systems.
- Manufacturing PV panels emits greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.
- PV panel production involves hazardous substances like lead and cadmium, which can contaminate soil and bodies of water.
- Building fabrication facilities entails land development, leading to habitat destruction, wildlife displacement and biodiversity loss.
- PV modules may need upgrading in as few as seven years to give way to technologically superior units, translating to considerable electronic waste and increased demand for mining replacements.
These points are valid but overblown. They’re mostly extreme cases that fail to paint an accurate picture of reality and ignore the progress electrical, mechanical, chemical and materials science engineers have made over the years to mitigate the unintended consequences of PV panel development and manufacturing.
PV Panels Are Reliable Only When It’s Sunny
Skeptics label PV systems as unreliable, claiming they hardly generate electricity when it’s cloudy. This fallacy hinges on the notion that solar panels need the sun shining to work.
It’s true that solar farms only yield output during the daytime. After all, PV modules need sunlight exposure to produce electricity. However, daylight remains present in overcast conditions. Clear weather is ideal but not a prerequisite for solar power generation.
Solar Arrays on Farmland Stifle Agriculture
Detractors assert that solar farm development threatens food security. They say PV arrays take away precious land for growing crops and rearing livestock.
This belief stems from the fact that many solar projects are built in rural areas. According to data published by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2024, 43% of utility-scale solar farms constructed from 2012 to 2020 stood on what used to be cropland, and 28% were on pasture and rangeland.
However, the high solar farming activity in rural areas doesn’t mean farmers and ranchers have stopped producing food. These agricultural landowners welcomed solar developers not because they wanted to retire but for a diversified, stable income stream.
Solar Farming Requires Vast Land
Solar farms need unobstructed space to catch as much sunshine as possible for electricity generation. Countless drone shots and satellite images have captured the scale of massive PV arrays in the middle of nowhere. That’s why it’s easy to presume that solar projects require vast space to be economically viable, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
Yes, the countryside is a natural spot for them. However, solar developers, especially nontraditional ones, have ways to avoid expanding into greenbelts to supply commercial clients with sufficient clean energy.
Large-Scale Solar Projects Are Cost-Prohibitive
Renewable energy infrastructure can be capital-intensive. A power plant is a significant investment that only some corporations can easily fund.
Spending continues after procuring and installing PV panels, as they need regular maintenance. Cleaning, vegetation management, electrical equipment monitoring and pest control are critical to their upkeep to prevent unexpected, indefinite downtime and premature failure.
A solar farm’s high upfront cost and recurring expenses can discourage business leaders dealing with finite resources, numerous liabilities and seasonal cash flow trends from investing.
However, the average construction cost of utility-scale solar power plants has declined sharply over the years. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that the figure was $1,588 per kilowatt in 2022. PV module construction costs fluctuate, but only some solar panel types have seen wild price swings in recent memory.
Factual Truths About Solar Farms
Myths about solar farming are half-truths at best. They perpetuate outdated stereotypes and oversimplify complex matters without contextualizing them. Here are the facts that tell the other half of the story about solar farms to inform your decision.
Solar Farming Solves Many Environmental Ills
Renewable energy sources negatively affect the environment in some way, and solar power is no exception. In the grand scheme of things, the planet is better off with solar panels than without them.
Solar farming at scale reduces the world’s reliance on fossil fuels — nonrenewable resources that disrupt the carbon cycle, intensify global warming, cause climate change, and make the planet less habitable for humans and wildlife. Solar power represents about 2,500 terawatts of accessible energy, so it’s the ultimate sustainable alternative to coal, oil and natural gas for decarbonizing industries.
PV modules contain recyclable components. As the circular economy matures, the world will get better at recovering and reprocessing electronic waste for reuse and managing contaminants. Continuous research and development should prolong the functional lifespans of solar panels.
Solar Power Is a Reliable Addition to the Energy Mix
Solar arrays can generate electricity in cloudy weather, although you should expect reduced output due to limited sunlight availability. An efficient clean energy storage technology like lithium-ion batteries can preserve most of what you generate when it’s sunny and draw from it to meet your electricity needs during overcast conditions.
PV modules are so reliable that their capacity has grown at a historic rate, tripling from 2018 to 2023 alone. Thanks to the continuous construction of solar power plants and deployment of rooftop PV panels, experts expect solar to account for 80% of the world’s renewable energy capacity by 2030.
The sun’s intermittent availability due to weather conditions and the day-night cycle shouldn’t be a big deal, as your facility doesn’t have to run exclusively on solar power. You can remain connected to the grid as a backup source and send your surplus electric output to the local utility company for credit or payment.
Solar Farms and Food Growers Coexist
Agriculture interests welcome deploying PV panels on their unproductive land to generate another revenue stream through lease agreements or consume the electric output. Some ranchers adopt solar farming to build sustainability brands and help consumers who plan to cut back on red meat for environmental reasons feel less guilty.
The concept of “agrivoltaics” is gaining steam. This practice involves constructing PV modules above crops, between rows of crops or on grazing land without disrupting agricultural activities. Elevated solar panels allow farming machinery to operate properly and safely.
This marriage between agriculture and renewable energy generation benefits food growers on many levels. Solar structures can protect crops from the elements, resulting in higher yields. The panels support pollinator habitats and provide shade to grazing livestock.
Facilities With Space Constraints Can Run on Solar
Solar farms need space — but not necessarily vast, open land. PV modules are increasingly becoming deployable in built environments, like airports, factories, parking lots and walkways.
Solar canopies are an elegant solution to farm the sun’s abundant, free energy in urban areas. Fabricators optimize their layout to determine the optimal orientation and maximize a site’s outdoor surface area for clean energy generation.
Combining shade solutions with integrated PV modules into existing commercial and industrial properties can also mitigate the urban heat island effect, reducing building cooling loads.
Business Owners Can Partially Shoulder Upfront Costs
Governments offer financial incentives to encourage businesses to transition to clean energy. Some offer grants, while others reward sustainable organizations through tax credits.
Furthermore, you can use solar power to operate your organization without having PV modules on your facility. In the U.S., you can participate in a community solar project in Washington, D.C., or any of the 44 states where it exists to cut your electricity costs through discounts on electric bills. Another avenue you should explore is entering into a power purchase agreement with a renewable energy supplier.
Community solar projects and power purchase agreements are convenient options for decarbonizing your company without directly dealing with a solar farm. Another party constructs, owns and maintains the infrastructure, so you only have to make regular payments. Clean electricity rates are negotiable to reflect trends in the renewable energy landscape.
Does a Solar Farm Fit Your Business?
Investing directly or indirectly in a solar farm is a serious financial commitment. To evaluate whether this move is worthwhile, consider your company’s energy consumption patterns, local regulations, available solar PV technologies in your area, and upfront and recurring costs.
Dispelling Solar Farm Misconceptions
Solar power is an imperfect renewable energy source. Sadly, appreciating its merits and evaluating its limitations can be challenging due to widespread misinformation. Take every claim with a grain of salt and seek the latest news and data on solar farming from reliable sources to make a decision based on verifiable facts.
Author Bio
Jack Shaw, the senior writer and editor at Modded, specializes in weaving together the threads of health and wellness with greater concerns about sustainability best practices and industry developments. With a commitment to providing actionable insights and empowering readers, Through his writing, Jack seeks to educate and inspire individuals on their journey toward more eco-friendly decisions. Feel free to connect with him via LinkedIn.