Solar Energy

Once electricity is generated from solar energy, it can be used in two ways:

• Immediately to run appliances or charge devices, including an electric vehicle.
• Stored in batteries for later use, like at night or during a power outage. 

All solar energy systems have an inverter to convert the electricity from direct current, DC, which is the type of electricity solar produces, to alternating current, AC, which is what the electrical grid uses. 

The parts of a solar panel include the frame, glass cover, polymer sheets, solar cells, and backing material. 

Distributed Solar

These solar panels are installed where power is used. This could be on the roof of a home, school, business, or a community building, instead of a large utility-scale project. These systems generate electricity locally. 

This helps lower energy bills, reduce reliance on the energy grid, and when combined with battery storage, backup power. Because the energy is produced close to where it’s needed, this can reduce energy loss that can happen during long-distance transmission.

Community Solar

If you want to benefit from solar energy but can’t install your own system due to living in an apartment, upfront costs, a shaded roof, or other barriers, community solar may be a good fit. It allows you to enjoy the benefits of solar energy without installing panels at your residence. 

When you subscribe to a community solar program in Illinois, you receive net metering credits on your utility bill based on how much energy your share of the community solar project produces. 

More About Community Solar 

Utility-Scale Solar

These are large-scale solar power plants that generate electricity for the grid. These projects range from 1 megawatt (MW) to several hundred MW in capacity. The largest solar project in Illinois is Double Black Diamond, in Morgan and Sangamon counties. It covers 4,000 acres and can power 100,000 homes. The project went online in late 2024.

While large-scale solar power plant projects do not always deliver power locally, they provide other benefits, including tax revenue, community benefit programs, land-lease payments, local jobs, and more.

For questions about permitting and siting for utility-scale solar, review energy planning resources. 

Agrivolatics is the practice of using the same land for both solar production and agriculture. Since solar panels and crops benefit from flat, sunny land, combining the two can reduce the competition for space and ease the challenges of siting solar energy systems on farmland. 

By placing solar panels above crops or livestock grazing areas, agrivoltaics makes it possible to produce renewable energy while maintaining agricultural productivity. This dual use supports sustainable land management, helps farmers diversify income, and reduces the pressure to convert farmland solely for energy production. 

University of Illinois is exploring the potential of agrivoltaics through the SCAPES project, Sustainably Colocating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems, which studies how crops and solar panels can be paired to increase crop production, generate energy, and increase farm profitability. 

Solar and Crops

Crops can be co-located underneath or adjacent to solar panels. Solar panels can reduce plant drought stress and increase food production, especially for more drought-prone crops. 

Solar and Livestock 

Solar projects can come with an abundance of grass. Instead of deploying lawn mowers, some projects are turning to sheep or goats to mow the grass. During the summer months, livestock can benefit from the shade provided by the panels. 

Solar and Natural Pollinators

In a state where only 0.01% of original prairies remain, supporting local pollinators and native plants is important. Solar projects can be paired with native plants to support local ecosystems. Incorporating native plants into solar energy projects provides many possible benefits, such as improved soil health, increased water retention, and reduced runoff.