EnvironmentUp to date · Jan 15, 2026
Land-Use Intensity
The area of land required per unit of energy produced, measured in acres per MW or square meters per kW. Solar farms need about 5-7 acres per MW; wind farms need 30-60 acres per MW (but most land remains usable).
Why It Matters
Rooftop solar has zero additional land-use impact. For utility-scale projects, agrivoltaics (farming under panels) is an emerging solution to land-use concerns.
Related Terms
Utility-Scale Solar
Large solar installations (typically 1 MW to 1 GW+) that sell electricity on the wholesale market or to utilities through power purchase agreements.
Capacity Factor
The ratio of actual energy produced by a system to its maximum potential output. Solar typically has a 15-25% capacity factor.