Solar Classroom
If you want to learn more about how solar photovoltaic (PV) projects operate, this is a good place to start!
From Source to Demand
Solar PV cells capture sunlight and generate an electric current. This current is then sent through inverters and transformers to convert it from direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) which makes it useable as "electricity" on the power grid. This electricity is distributed via power lines to where it is used.
Solar PV is a technology used to convert sunlight to electricity. Solar panels are designed and will be used to achieve optimal energy production at the Old Fields Solar Project. Several solar cells are electrically connected and mounted in a support structure or frame that is called a photovoltaic (PV) module. Arrays of Photovoltaic modules at the site will produce direct-current (DC) electricity.
Inverters convert the direct current (DC) electricity from the solar panel into alternating current (AC) electricity, so it can be added to the utility grid system.
The electricity generated will be collected on-site using underground cables to the project substation. The project substation will aggregate the energy so it can be fed onto the grid and includes a transformer that converts – or “steps up” – the electricity to the same voltage level carried by the grid's transmission lines.
Panel Composition
Solar panels are composed of silicon solar cells confined between glass with a metal frame. The silicon, glass, and metal framing used to manufacture solar panels are non-toxic. The interior components of solar panels are entirely solid and made primarily from silicon and metal so there are no liquids or gases that risk polluting the environment.
Land Stewardship
Old Fields Solar will maintain and protect the leased land during the operating life of the project, after which it will be fully decommissioned and will then revert to the owner’s control and be available again for traditional farming. Solar development and traditional agricultural can co-exist side-by-side and are increasingly found together. Responsible solar development provides benefits to both agriculture and local ecosystems by improving soil health over time, increasing biodiversity, retaining water and topsoil with deep-rooted vegetation, and nurturing native pollinators which support local food production.
Agriculture
West Virginia farmers produce world-class products. As stewards of the land, they understand the need to balance productivity and environmental protection. Old Fields Solar will be built primarily on agricultural land, and while the product produced is not traditionally agricultural, it generates a necessary, renewable product, and continues the tradition of West Virginia’s agricultural and energy leadership. Clean solar energy is produced without causing air or water pollution and provides a stable revenue stream for farmers and their families, as well as the local community in the form of property taxes. At the end of the project’s operating term, the land will be once again available for traditional agriculture.
Although some worry about the use of agricultural land for solar energy generation, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that it would take only 3.5% of U.S. cropland to meet 100% of all energy demand via solar installations. They anticipate only needing 1-2% of agricultural land in combination with other energy sources.
Agrivoltaics
The MN8 Team is working to employ agrivoltaics in the form of sheep-grazing at the Old Fiels Solar project. The project footprint is anticipated to include approximately 1,000 acres, many of which will incorporate vegetation that is managed by sheep grazing around or underneath the panels. Due to their size and typical grazing nature, sheep can easily maneuver around solar panels and very rarely run the risk of damaging solar project equipment, or consequently, themselves. The MN8 team will be identifying local partners and stakeholders to work with on progressing agrivoltaics at the Old Fields Solar project site. As the project progresses, the team will work to provide updates on plans for sheep grazing in the area.
Additionally, MN8 is developing vegetation plans for the site that can benefit the surrounding area. While these designs have not yet been finalized, this will likely include planting perennial, deep-rooted vegetation, and pollinator-friendly habitats with the goal of improving soil health, reducing stormwater runoff, and creating habitats that bring wildlife to the site, among other things.
