Large-scale PV

Large-scale solar PV systems have grown rapidly, accounting for over half of all solar capacity installed between 2010 and 2014. These projects benefit from economies of scale, with costs in 2013 averaging half of those in 2010, making them significantly cheaper than residential solar. While they generate electricity without carbon emissions or water consumption, they require substantial land area, which can impact habitats. Mitigation strategies include using degraded lands, such as landfills. Growth is supported by federal tax credits, state renewable electricity standards, and permitting reforms.

• Large-scale PV systems experienced significant growth and cost reductions between 2010 and 2014. They represented more than 50% of all solar capacity installed during this period, with total capacity quadrupling from 2012 to 2014. By 2013, the average cost of electricity from new large PV projects was half of what it was in 2010.
• Large-scale solar projects provide economic advantages over residential solar and fossil fuel plants. The total cost for a specific amount of solar in large projects is typically half that of residential solar due to lower 'soft costs' per unit of capacity. Additionally, solar projects generate more jobs than comparable fossil fuel plants because expenditures are directed toward labor-intensive activities like manufacturing and installation rather than fuel extraction.
• PV electricity generation has a positive environmental profile compared to other energy sources, as it produces no carbon dioxide, harmful emissions (such as mercury or sulfur dioxide), or long-lasting nuclear waste. Notably, PV systems require little to no water for electricity generation, unlike steam-based plants (coal, nuclear, and some natural gas) that rely on cooling water.
• The primary environmental challenge for large-scale PV is land use, as projects may require several acres per megawatt of capacity, potentially threatening habitats and cultural sites. To mitigate this, developers can use careful site selection or locate projects on degraded lands, such as the 10 MW solar farm at the Freshkills landfill in Staten Island, NY, or a 6 MW project at the Dennis landfill in Massachusetts.
• The expansion of large-scale PV is driven by a combination of state and federal policies. These include renewable electricity standards (enacted by 29 states and the District of Columbia), solar carve-outs, federal investment tax credits (currently 30%), and accelerated depreciation for equipment.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2015). Large-scale PV. https://www.ucs.org/resources/large-scale-pv

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Large-scale PV. 2015. https://www.ucs.org/resources/large-scale-pv.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Large-scale PV |date=11 September 2015 |url=https://www.ucs.org/resources/large-scale-pv |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2015largescale, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Large-scale PV}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2015}, month = sep, url = {https://www.ucs.org/resources/large-scale-pv}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }