Solar energy is central to the government's plan for a cleaner, cheaper, and more secure energy supply in Britain. The goal is ambitious: to increase solar capacity to 70GW by 2035, a nearly fivefold rise.

For solar developers, choosing the right site is essential. The success and economic viability of a project depend heavily on location. Getting this step right is crucial for long-term success.

Not all locations offer the same value, and renewable energy providers must thoroughly evaluate each site's advantages and disadvantages before acquisition.

To streamline the land-sourcing process, we're enhancing Searchland with additional features built specifically to help renewable energy companies find prime land for solar photovoltaic power stations.

Land requirements for solar parks

Identifying the ideal solar site involves numerous considerations, and specific issues, such as insufficient local grid capacity, can instantly make a site unsuitable. While factors like terrain, slope, and vegetation are important, with our new solar tool users will have quick and easy access to comprehensive solar resources and power-potential data.

New layers: solar tool

A groundbreaking innovation for those interested in the technical factors of solar farm site selection, our new tool gives users access to seven useful visual datasets (from Global Solar Atlas) helping them narrow down the most optimal locations. Our new selectable layers include:

• DNI, Direct Normal Irradiation (kWh/m2)
• GHI, Global Horizontal Irradiation (kWh/m2)
• DIF, Diffuse Horizontal Irradiation (kWh/m2)
• Global Tilted Irradiation at an optimum angle (kWh/m2)
• Optimum tilt of PV modules (degrees)
• Air Temperature (celsius)
• Total Photovoltaic Power Output (kWh/m2)

And that's not all. When used alongside our existing proximity and query tools, searching for sites is made even more simple. Need a site close to a substation with spare headroom? Or a land parcel that stays above 8°C year round? No problem.

To find out more, or run through your specific criteria with our team to see how Searchland can help - get in touch to arrange a demo today.