Solar Farm Business Plan
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We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their solar farms.
Below is a template to help you create each section of your Solar Farm business plan.
Executive Summary
Business Overview
Helios Solar is a startup Solar Farm company located in northern New Mexico. The company was founded by husband and wife team Derek and Meri Smith. Derek has deep experience in the construction industry, and Meri has a background in accounting. The combination of these skills positions the couple to succeed in building and maintaining a solar farm. What’s more, Derek and Meri already own a 250-acre tract of land in sunny New Mexico.
Product Offering
Helios Solar has designated 50 acres on which it will install crystalline silicon solar panels with sun tracking technology. It will begin as a 5MW farm, with ample land for capacity growth. The company will keep abreast of solar technology innovations as it grows.
Customer Focus
Helios Solar will offer wholesale electricity to established utility companies in New Mexico and surrounding states.
Management Team
Helios Solar will be owned and operated by Derek and Meri. Derek will oversee the physical operation of the farm, while Meri will oversee the administrative side.
Derek Smith has a background in construction, and is a graduate of Solar Energy International, and subsequently earned a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification as a PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist.
Meri Smith is a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She has been working at a local accounting firm for over a decade as a CPA. Meri’s experience in accounting has given her the skills to manage the company’s finances, and the knowledge to steer the company to financial stability and success.
Success Factors
Helios Solar will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:
- Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified PV experts
- An ideal location in New Mexico, with ample room for expansion
Download the Solar Farm business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Financial Highlights
Helios Solar is seeking $2 million in debt financing to launch its solar farm. The funding will be dedicated towards installing solar panels and payroll of the staff until the farm reaches break even. The breakout of the funding is below:
- Hardware (modules, inverters, mounts, etc.): $1.7 million
- Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
- Overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $200,000
- Marketing costs: $10,000
- Working capital: $10,000
To supplement its funding requirements, Helios Solar intends to apply for government grants and take advantage of incentive programs for the installation of solar equipment.
The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Helios Solar.
Company Overview
Who is Helios Solar?
Helios Solar is a startup Solar Farm company located in northern New Mexico. The company was founded by husband and wife team Derek and Meri Smith. Derek has deep experience in the construction industry, and Meri has a background in accounting. The combination of these skills positions the couple to succeed in building and maintaining a solar farm. What’s more, Derek and Meri already own a 250-acre tract of land in sunny New Mexico.
Helios Solar aims to deliver utility-scale solar power, starting with a 5MW capacity. The husband and wife team is highly qualified and experienced in PV maintenance, accounting, and financial reporting.
Helios Solar History
Helios Solar is owned and operated by Derek and Meri Smith, a former construction manager and certified PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist (Derek), and CPA (Meri). Derek has worked for a large construction company and oversaw a variety of construction projects in the Albuquerque metro area. Derek’s tenure with the construction company, as well as his education in PV maintenance, combined with Meri’s financial acumen has given them the skills and knowledge required to venture out and start their own company. Derek and Meri have been awarded contracts with two large utility companies, which guarantees Helios Solar stability while they work to increase capacity.
Since incorporation, Helios Solar has achieved the following milestones:
- Registered Helios Solar, LLC to transact business in the state of New Mexico.
- Has cleared and prepared a 5-acre parcel of land for PV installation, and constructed an office building nearby.
- Reached out to numerous utilities in order to start getting wholesale contracts.
- Began recruiting PV maintenance workers, and office personnel to work at Helios Solar.
Helios Solar Services
Helios Solar has designated 50 acres on which it will install crystalline silicon solar panels with sun tracking technology. It will begin as a 5MW farm, with ample land for capacity growth. The company will keep abreast of solar technology innovations as it grows.
Industry Analysis
The Solar Power industry is expected to grow over the next five years to over $18.3 billion.
The growth will be driven by the large expansion of government spending is set to support the industry as the push toward renewables accelerates. Electric power consumption is expected to increase slightly, but is expected to continue its shift toward renewable sources and away from fossil fuels.
The Solar Power industry in the United States is growing rapidly, underpinned by a combination of favorable government incentives and consistent technological advancements. Furthermore, solar power falls into the emergent green energy sector and benefits from rising public and private support.
Costs will likely be reduced as PV panels continue to gain efficiency and manufacturers compete to drive down the price of producing the panels. Solar Farms have also benefited from attractive tax credits and requirements for downstream utilities to diversify energy holdings and integrate renewable energy into their portfolio.
Download the Solar Farm business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Customer Analysis
Demographic Profile of Target Market
Helios Solar will target utility companies in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona.
The precise data for these target states are:
| Electric power transmission, control, and distribution industry, 2020 | ||
| Geographic Area | Number of establishments | Number of employees |
| Arizona | 47 | 4,058 |
| Colorado | 139 | 5,506 |
| New Mexico | 58 | 1,823 |
| Utah | 107 | 1,961 |
Customer Segmentation
Helios Solar will primarily target the following customer profiles:
- Non-profit utility companies
- Corporate utility companies
- Government administered utilities
Competitive Analysis
Direct and Indirect Competitors
Helios Solar will face competition from other companies with similar business models. A description of each competitor company is below.
Sunrise Solar Power Plant
Sunrise Solar is a 794 MWp (614 MWAC) photovoltaic power station in California, near the Mexican border. The facility was developed and constructed in three phases.
The first phase was commissioned in 2014, and supplies 266 MW under a 25-year agreement. The third phase was commissioned in 2018, and provides 328 MW using 2.8 million thin film panels. Phase two was commissioned in early 2020, and provides 200 MW.
The plant users more than 3 million thin-film CdTe photovoltaic modules and 138 skids which rotate on a north-south axis tracking the path of the Sun, and produces enough energy to power 72,000 homes.
Sun Mountain Solar Facility
The Sun Mountain Solar Facility is an 802 megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant. The plant entered service on December 1, 2010. It is co-located with three other solar projects in the region, thus forming a more than 1 gigawatt (GW) solar generating complex.
100 GW·h/year from phase 1 has been sold under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Power generated from phase 2 has been sold under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
This solar complex creates enough electricity to power 200,000 homes. It sits on 4,000 acres of land and has about 4.3 million solar panels. The facility has been built in phases and the first one came on line in 2010, with the rest following in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2021.
Badlands Solar Park
Badlands Solar Park is one of the largest solar parks in the US. The park is spread over a total area of 7,000 acres, and has a total capacity of 2,000 MW. It is expected to eventually have a total capacity of 3,000 MW. The project is a joint effort between state-owned energy companies, which provide electricity across the country. Construction on the Badlands Solar Park began in 2016.
It was built in four phases:
- Phase I – 420 MW of capacity
- Phase II – 250 MW of capacity
- Phase III – 500 MW of capacity
- Phase IV – 250 MW of capacity
Download the Solar Farm business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Competitive Advantage
Helios Solar will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:
- Local, family-owned operation, with highly-qualified PV experts
- Helios Solar stays abreast of all technology developments, takes care of all maintenance and property improvements, and delivers an accurate and complete set of financials each month.
- Helios Solar offers the best pricing in town. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition.
Marketing Plan
Brand & Value Proposition
Helios Solar will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:
- Highly-qualified team of PV experts that provide a comprehensive set of solar services (financial, accounting, marketing, maintenance, and improvements).
- Unbeatable pricing to its clients – Helios Solar does not mark up its services at a large percentage. They will offer the lowest pricing in the region.
Promotions Strategy
The promotions strategy for Helios Solar is as follows:
Professional Associations and Networking
Helios Solar will become a member of solar associations such as Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), American Council on Renewable Energy (ACRE), and Solar Energy International (SEI). They will focus their networking efforts on expanding their brand recognition and relevance.
Print Advertising
Helios Solar will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events.
Website/SEO Marketing
Helios Solar will maintain a well-organized and informative website, which will list all their services. The website will also list their contact information. The company will also hire a digital marketer to enhance their website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that Helios Solar’s website will be well-positioned at the top of internet search results.
Pricing
Helios Solar’s pricing will be moderate and on par with competitors so clients feel they receive value when purchasing their services.
Operations Plan
The following will be the operations plan for Helios Solar.
Operation Functions:
- Meri Smith will be President of the company. She will oversee the office and manage client relations.
- Derek Smith will be CEO of the company. He will oversee field operations: performing installation, maintenance, and upgrades to the solar array.
Download the Solar Farm business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Milestones:
Helios Solar will have the following milestones complete in the next eight months.
5/1/202X – Finalize construction of office space
615/202X – Finalize property preparation and solar array planning
8/1/202X – Installation of racks and mounts
12/1/202X – Installation of solar array
12/15/202X – Begin networking at industry events
1/1/202X – Helios Solar opens its office for business
Management Team
Helios Solar will be owned and operated by Derek and Meri. Derek will oversee the physical operation of the farm, while Meri will oversee the administrative side.
Derek Smith has a background in construction, and is a graduate of Solar Energy International, and subsequently earned a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification as a PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist.
Meri Smith is a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She has been working at a local accounting firm for over a decade as a CPA. Meri’s experience in accounting has given her the skills to manage the company’s finances, and the knowledge to steer the company to financial stability and success.
Financial Plan
Key Revenue & Costs
The revenue drivers for Helios Solar are the electricity fees they will charge to utility companies for their services. Most other solar energy wholesale companies charge $83 per MWh; Helios Solar will initially charge $80 per MWh.
The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required to maintain and upgrade solar arrays. The major expenses will be payroll, and hardware purchases.
Funding Requirements and Use of Funds
Helios Solar is seeking $2 million in debt financing to launch its solar farm. The funding will be dedicated towards installing solar panels and payroll of the staff until the farm reaches break even. The breakout of the funding is below:
- Hardware (modules, inverters, mounts, etc.): $1.7 million
- Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
- Overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $200,000
- Marketing costs: $10,000
- Working capital: $10,000
To supplement its funding requirements, Helios Solar intends to apply for government grants and take advantage of incentive programs for the installation of solar equipment.
Download the Solar Farm business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Key Assumptions
The following outlines the key assumptions required to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and to pay off the startup business loan.
- Number of MWh Per Year: 1,750
- Average Fees: $27/MWh
Financial Projections
Income Statement
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | ||||||
| Total Revenues | $360,000 | $793,728 | $875,006 | $964,606 | $1,063,382 | |
| Expenses & Costs | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | $64,800 | $142,871 | $157,501 | $173,629 | $191,409 | |
| Lease | $50,000 | $51,250 | $52,531 | $53,845 | $55,191 | |
| Marketing | $10,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | |
| Salaries | $157,015 | $214,030 | $235,968 | $247,766 | $260,155 | |
| Initial expenditure | $10,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Total Expenses & Costs | $291,815 | $416,151 | $454,000 | $483,240 | $514,754 | |
| EBITDA | $68,185 | $377,577 | $421,005 | $481,366 | $548,628 | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | |
| EBIT | $41,025 | $350,417 | $393,845 | $454,206 | $521,468 | |
| Interest | $23,462 | $20,529 | $17,596 | $14,664 | $11,731 | |
| PRETAX INCOME | $17,563 | $329,888 | $376,249 | $439,543 | $509,737 | |
| Net Operating Loss | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Use of Net Operating Loss | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Taxable Income | $17,563 | $329,888 | $376,249 | $439,543 | $509,737 | |
| Income Tax Expense | $6,147 | $115,461 | $131,687 | $153,840 | $178,408 | |
| NET INCOME | $11,416 | $214,427 | $244,562 | $285,703 | $331,329 |
Balance Sheet
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Cash | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | $1,149,286 | |
| Accounts receivable | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Inventory | $30,000 | $33,072 | $36,459 | $40,192 | $44,308 | |
| Total Current Assets | $184,257 | $381,832 | $609,654 | $878,742 | $1,193,594 | |
| Fixed assets | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $54,320 | $81,480 | $108,640 | $135,800 | |
| Net fixed assets | $153,790 | $126,630 | $99,470 | $72,310 | $45,150 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $338,047 | $508,462 | $709,124 | $951,052 | $1,238,744 | |
| LIABILITIES & EQUITY | ||||||
| Debt | $315,831 | $270,713 | $225,594 | $180,475 | $135,356 | |
| Accounts payable | $10,800 | $11,906 | $13,125 | $14,469 | $15,951 | |
| Total Liability | $326,631 | $282,618 | $238,719 | $194,944 | $151,307 | |
| Share Capital | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Retained earnings | $11,416 | $225,843 | $470,405 | $756,108 | $1,087,437 | |
| Total Equity | $11,416 | $225,843 | $470,405 | $756,108 | $1,087,437 | |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY | $338,047 | $508,462 | $709,124 | $951,052 | $1,238,744 |
Cash Flow Statement
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS | ||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $11,416 | $214,427 | $244,562 | $285,703 | $331,329 | |
| Change in working capital | ($19,200) | ($1,966) | ($2,167) | ($2,389) | ($2,634) | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | |
| Net Cash Flow from Operations | $19,376 | $239,621 | $269,554 | $310,473 | $355,855 | |
| CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS | ||||||
| Investment | ($180,950) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Net Cash Flow from Investments | ($180,950) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING | ||||||
| Cash from equity | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Cash from debt | $315,831 | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | |
| Net Cash Flow from Financing | $315,831 | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | |
| Net Cash Flow | $154,257 | $194,502 | $224,436 | $265,355 | $310,736 | |
| Cash at Beginning of Period | $0 | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | |
| Cash at End of Period | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | $1,149,286 |
Solar Farm Business Plan FAQs
What Is a Solar Farm Business Plan?
A solar farm business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your solar farm business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.
You can easily complete your solar farm business plan using our Solar Farm Business Plan Template here.
What are the Main Types of Solar Farm Businesses?
There are a number of different kinds of solar farm business, some examples include: Crystalline Silicon Power Plant and Thin-Film Solar Power Plant.
How Do You Get Funding for Your Solar Farm Business Plan?
Solar farm businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding. This is true for a solar business plan, a solar energy business plan and a solar panel business plan.
What are the Steps To Start a Solar Farm Business?
Starting a solar farm business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.
1. Develop A Solar Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed solar farm business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.
2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your solar farm business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your solar farm business is in compliance with local laws.
3. Register Your Solar Farm Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your solar farm business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.
4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your solar farm business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.
5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.
6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.
7. Acquire Necessary Solar Farm Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your solar farm business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.
8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your solar farm business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.
Learn more about how to start a successful solar farm business: