While solar farms may seem low-maintenance, the truth is that they require regular upkeep to continue running optimally.
Jump to Section:
- Are Solar Farms 'High-Maintenance?'
- How Poor Landscape Maintenance Negatively Impacts Solar Farms
- Which Landscape Maintenance Tasks Does a Solar Farm Require?
- How Often Do Grid-Scale Solar Farms Need to be Cleaned or Maintained?
- Choosing Commercial Landscape Maintenance in Greater Chicago
Solar farm landscape maintenance can have a direct impact on the efficiency of your solar farm. The vegetation around your solar farm (particularly the turf), can play an essential role in the longevity and performance of your solar farm.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of solar farm grounds maintenance tasks, including solar farm mowing.
Are Solar Farms 'High-Maintenance?'
Solar farms are not high-maintenance, but they’re not “zero maintenance,” either. They fall somewhere in the low-to-moderate-maintenance range, depending heavily on the design, vegetation strategy, equipment used, and location.
We find that solar farms tend to involve more maintenance than people generally realize. As with anything, it’s important to have realistic expectations.
Vegetation around solar farms, including the turf, can grow fast. And when there is overgrowth, it can lead to problems.
Poor turf maintenance at solar farms can lead to operational, environmental, and financial issues. That’s why it’s essential to keep up with ongoing care.
How Poor Landscape Maintenance Negatively Impacts Solar Farms
Failing to maintain solar farm grounds can have several negative impacts on solar farms. Here are the most notable.
Reduced Solar Farm Efficiency
One of the biggest concerns is reduced solar efficiency. Vegetation overgrowth (like grass and weeds growing tall) can cast shadows on the solar panels and dramatically reduce a panel’s output.
These losses can be compounded over time. The same is true for the accumulation of dust and debris. Poorly maintained turf can lead to soil erosion, which can cause dust to be kicked up. Dirty panels can lose between 10 and 25 percent of their energy output.
Financial Burden
Failing to maintain the solar farm landscape can also lead to increased operational costs. When landscape growth is left unchecked, it can lead to the spread of invasive plant species, which can be more expensive to remove once established due to the need for specialized herbicides or mechanical removal.
Additionally, overgrown or poorly maintained turf can also make it challenging for technicians to access panels for routine maintenance and repairs. This can slow down inspections and increase labor costs.
Infrastructure Risk
When solar farms are poorly maintained, it can also increase the risk of fire. Tall, dry grass or weeds pose a fire risk during the summer season. In addition, the roots of aggressive plants can interfere with underground cabling and panel foundations.
Unmanaged vegetation can harbor rodents that chew through cables, causing costly damage and downtime.
Environmental & Regulatory Implications
Another potential downside of failing to maintain solar farm landscapes is the environmental and regulatory implications.
Poor turf maintenance can degrade soil quality, resulting in erosion and increased runoff. Neglected turf can fail to support local ecosystems, resulting in biodiversity loss.
Aesthetic Impact
Finally, there’s an aesthetic component when solar farm landscape maintenance is not prioritized. Overgrowth can be perceived as an eyesore, potentially impacting the solar farm’s relationship with neighboring communities and stakeholders.
Keeping up with maintenance helps demonstrate responsibility and improves public perception.
Which Landscape Maintenance Tasks Does a Solar Farm Require?
The primary maintenance needs for a solar farm include vegetation management, panel cleaning, equipment inspection and repair, and environmental compliance. Keeping up with these tasks can help ensure that your solar farm runs optimally.
Keep in mind that various factors can impact the maintenance needs of a solar farm. The site design, location, equipment quality, and operational strategy can all impact the maintenance of a solar farm.
How Often do Grid-Scale Solar Farms Need to be Cleaned or Maintained?
Different maintenance tasks have different timelines. Vegetation management typically requires two to four times per year for solar farm mowing plus occasional weeding and/or herbicide applications.
Panel cleaning typically needs to be performed one to two times per year, depending on the amount of dust, pollen, bird droppings, and the local climate.
Equipment inspection and repair require quarterly or bi-annual inspections. Environmental compliance is an ongoing task, with annual environmental assessments sometimes performed.
Choosing Commercial Landscape Maintenance in Greater Chicago
The last thing you want is for a lack of maintenance to negatively impact your solar farm. That’s why selecting a commercial landscape maintenance company that can handle solar farm landscape maintenance needs is so valuable.
At KD Landscape, we have extensive experience managing large-scale commercial landscapes like solar farms. Our expert understanding of efficiently planning and executing large projects ensures effective vegetation management around solar panels.
We are also committed to promoting sustainability with eco-friendly practices. Our innovative solar farm vegetation management strategies ensure you stay within budget and receive the necessary maintenance to achieve your performance goals.
When you make a wise choice and maintain your solar farm grounds properly, you can avoid problems and ensure optimal solar farm efficiency.
Want to learn more about commercial landscape design and maintenance in Greater Chicago? Get started today with an on-site consultation. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice.
