The area required for a 20-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) system varies significantly depending on installation type, panel efficiency, and design parameters. Here's a technical breakdown:
**1. Ground-mounted systems**
For utility-scale installations with optimal tilt angles (typically 25°–40°) and spacing to avoid shading:
- Average land use: 2.5–3.5 acres/MW (10,117–14,164 m²/MW)
- 20MW requirement: 50–70 hectares (500,000–700,000 m²)
*Example*: A 20MW solar farm in Arizona using 400W bifacial panels with tracking systems occupies approximately 62 hectares (620,000 m²).
**2. Rooftop installations**
For commercial/industrial applications with fixed-tilt systems:
- Typical density: 80–120 m²/MW
- 20MW coverage: 16,000–24,000 m²
*Case study*: A German factory's 20MW rooftop array using 550W half-cut modules achieved 21,500 m² coverage with 18.2% system efficiency.
**Key influencing factors**:
- Panel wattage (360W–700W+ modules)
- Mounting type (fixed vs. tracking)
- Latitude-dependent tilt angles
- Local shading regulations
- Access road requirements (adds 10–15% extra space)
Modern high-efficiency 670W panels can reduce land use to 2.1 acres/MW (8,498 m²/MW), while vertical bifacial systems in high-latitude areas may require up to 4 acres/MW (16,187 m²/MW). Actual project sizing requires detailed PVsyst simulations considering site-specific irradiation patterns and terrain features.
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