Updated: October 9, 2025
By Drew Schiavone
A publication header for University of Maryland Extension and Environment and Natural Resources

EC-2024-0710  |  October 2025

Track B: Landowner Solar Energy Curriculum

By Drew Schiavone, Ph.D.

Solar electricity power plant located in field
Image: Adobe Stock

For landowners interested in leasing their land for large-scale solar projects, focusing on the leasing process, financial, and regulatory considerations. This track focuses on the specific needs of landowners, providing essential information to navigate the leasing process and understand the financial and regulatory landscape.

Intended Audience:

Landowners interested in leasing their land for large-scale solar projects. 

Benefits:

Understand the leasing process and the financial and regulatory considerations involved. Make informed decisions about leasing land for solar energy projects.

Modules:

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Module 1: Solar Market

A set of educational materials titled 'Module #1 Solar Market'. The documents and slides feature text and visuals on solar energy concepts.


 

Module 1 covers various forms of energy, how solar power fits into the overall mix, and basic applications of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy. It explores different energy sources, as well as current market trends related to PV technology and policy developments supporting the solar market. Topics also address implementation options (e.g., off-grid, grid-tied), solar motivations, and utility-scale considerations.

Outcomes

  1. describe at least three key distinctions between solar and other forms of energy;
  2. explain the market trend of solar PV compared to other forms of energy; and
  3. name at least three benefits and/or motivations for installing solar PV.

Module #1 Curriculum

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Module 5: Solar Regulations

A set of educational materials titled "Module #5: Solar Regulations". The documents and slides feature text and visuals on solar energy concepts.


 

Module 5 covers regulations for small-scale and utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) development in Maryland, including policies affecting the solar market, permitting requirements, and zoning and planning ordinances. It explores Maryland’s solar policies (e.g., Renewable Portfolio Standard, net metering), as well as permits requirements related to Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity (CPCN) and interconnection. Topics also address nuisance claims, accessory use, and other siting requirements.

Outcomes

Learn about the regulations and policies affecting solar PV development in Maryland. By the end of this module, you should be able to:

  1. explain a key policy that has helped advance the solar market in Maryland;
  2. describe one type of permit that is commonly required for installing solar; and
  3. name one type of legal nuisance claim that could arise when installing solar.

Module #5 Curriculum

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Module 8: Community Solar

A set of educational materials titled "Module #8: Community Solar". The documents and slides feature text and visuals on solar energy concepts.


 

Module 8 covers the fundamentals of community solar, including its definition, availability, and steps to explore opportunities. It explores the benefits, opportunities, challenges, enabling policies, and programs supporting community solar development. Topics also address key steps, tools, and resources community solar engagement and program development.

Outcomes

Learn how community solar programs operate, assess program offerings, and get started with community solar or a solar co-op. By the end of this module, you should be able to:

  1. explain at least one key distinction in the ownership structure for shared solar;
  2. discuss the relative scale community solar deployment compared to other sectors; and
  3. name three different subscription types used to allocate costs to solar subscribers.

Module #8 Curriculum

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Module 9: Land Leasing

A set of educational materials titled "Module #9: Land Leasing". The documents and slides feature text and visuals on solar energy concepts.


 

Module 9 covers land use concerns, engineering requirements, and legal considerations for leasing land for large-scale, utility-scale solar projects. It explores environmental, community, and economic concerns, as well as various siting considerations (e.g., location, acreage, grid proximity). Topics also address property ownership, conservation easements, future uses, and lease clauses.

Outcomes

Learn about the process, agreements, and considerations for leasing land for large-scale utility-scale solar projects. By the end of this module, you should be able to:

  1. explain one environmental or economic concern with large-scale solar projects;
  2. describe what is involved in the due diligence phase of solar development; and
  3. name three types of property ownership and how they might impact solar development.

Module #9 Curriculum

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Additional Resources

This appendix compiles additional resources for UMD’s Solar Energy Curriculum, designed to support a diverse range of end users. Whether you are a homeowner, farmer, or business owner interested in installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, or an educator from an extension service or non-profit organization aiming to deliver educational programs on solar energy, these resources provide valuable information and guidance. The resources are organized by their corresponding educational module for easy reference.

Module #1: Solar Market

Module #5: Solar Regulations

Module #8: Community Solar

Module #9: Land Leasing

Glossary

This glossary compiles important terms and acronyms used throughout UMD’s Solar Energy Curriculum. It serves as a quick reference guide to help users, including homeowners, farmers, business owners, and educators, better understand the key concepts and terminology related to solar energy. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you can more effectively navigate the curriculum and apply the knowledge to your specific needs and interests.

  • AC Coupled System: A solar PV system where solar power is converted to AC before being stored in batteries.
  • Accessory Use: A secondary use of property that supports the primary use, such as installing solar panels on a farm primarily used for agriculture.
  • Alternating Current (AC): Electric current that periodically reverses direction.
  • Array, PV: Multiple solar modules connected together to increase power output.
  • Azimuth: The compass direction from which the sunlight is coming at any specific point in time, used to orient solar panels.
  • Balance of System (BOS): Additional components in a solar PV system, such as inverters, wiring, and mounting hardware, that ensure the system operates safely and efficiently.
  • Battery Bank: A group of batteries connected together to store energy in a solar PV system.
  • Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): Solar PV systems integrated into building materials, such as roof tiles or windows.
  • Capacity, System: The maximum output of a solar PV system, typically measured in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts (MW).
  • Cell, PV: A semiconductor device that converts sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
  • Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity (CPCN): A permit required for the construction and operation of certain utility-scale solar projects.
  • Charge Controller: A device that regulates the flow of electricity from solar panels to batteries, preventing overcharging and undercharging.
  • Combiner Box: A device that consolidates the output from multiple solar panel strings and connects them to an inverter.
  • Commissioning: The process of testing and verifying that a solar PV system is installed correctly and operating as intended.
  • Community Solar: Solar energy projects that provide power to multiple customers within a community, allowing participants to receive credits on their utility bills for their share of the power produced.
  • Critical Loads: Essential devices that require continuous power, such as refrigerators, medical equipment, and computers.
  • Current, Electrical: The flow of electric charge, measured in amperes (amps, A).
  • Days of Autonomy: The number of days a battery system can operate without recharging from solar or other sources.
  • DC Coupling: A solar PV system where solar power is stored as DC and converted to AC only when needed.
  • Decommissioning: The process of safely removing a solar PV system from service and managing the disposal or recycling of its components.
  • Demand Side Management: Strategies to control and reduce energy consumption during peak demand periods to lower utility costs and improve grid stability.
  • Depreciation: The reduction in the value of an asset over time, which can be used to recover costs for tax purposes.>
  • Depth of Discharge (DoD): The percentage of a battery's capacity that has been used, affecting its lifespan.
  • Derate Factor: A multiplier used to account for losses in a solar PV system, such as inefficiencies in inverters and wiring.
  • Direct Current (DC): Electric current flowing in one direction.
  • Disconnect Switch: A switch that safely interrupts the flow of DC electricity from the PV array, or AC electricity from the inverter, for maintenance and troubleshooting.
  • Dispatchable Energy: Energy sources that can be quickly adjusted to meet electricity demand, such as fossil fuels and nuclear power.
  • Distributed Generation: Small-scale electricity generation close to the point of use, such as rooftop solar panels.
  • Due Diligence Phase: The phase in solar development involving necessary studies and approvals to ensure the project's feasibility.
  • Electricity: The flow of electric charge, used as a power source.
  • Energy, Electrical: The total amount of electrical power used or produced over time, measured in watt-hours (Wh) or kilowatt-hours (kWh).
  • Energy Assessment (Audit): Evaluations of energy use to identify opportunities for conservation and efficiency improvements.
  • Energy Conservation: Reducing energy use through efficient practices and technologies to lower consumption and costs.
  • Energy Consumption: The amount of electrical energy used by devices and systems.
  • Energy Demand: The amount of electricity required by users at any given time.
  • Energy Efficiency: Using technology and practices that consume less energy to perform the same function, improving overall energy use.
  • Exclusion Screening: Measures to prevent unauthorized access and provide visual screening for solar installations.
  • Feed-In Tariffs (FITs): Policies that guarantee a fixed price for renewable energy fed into the grid.
  • Green Power Programs: Programs that allow customers to purchase renewable energy from a shared facility, either owned by a utility or a third-party, through one-time or ongoing payments.
  • Grid-Tied (Grid-Connect) System: Solar PV systems connected to the utility grid, allowing excess electricity to be fed back into the grid.
  • Insolation, Solar: The accumulated solar irradiance over a defined period, measured in watt-hours per square meter (Wh/m²).
  • Interconnection: The process of connecting a solar PV system to the electric utility grid, including obtaining necessary approvals.
  • Internal Rate of Return (IRR): A financial metric that describes the return on the initial investment, often compared to stock market returns or bonds.
  • Inverter: A device that converts direct current (DC) electricity from solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity for use in homes and businesses.
  • Investment Tax Credit (ITC): A federal tax credit that reduces the cost of installing solar PV systems by a percentage of the installation cost.
  • Irradiance, Solar: The power per unit area received from the sun, measured in watts per square meter (W/m²).
  • Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE): The average net present cost of electricity generation for a power plant over its lifetime.
  • Light Induced Degradation (LID): The initial performance loss in solar panels due to exposure to sunlight, typically occurring in the first year.
  • Load, Electrical: A device that consumes electricity, such as a fan, lamp, or pump.
  • Load Shifting: The practice of moving energy consumption to different times of the day to take advantage of lower electricity rates or reduce peak demand.
  • Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) Charge Controller: A charge controller that optimizes the power output from solar panels by operating at their maximum power point.
  • Meter: A device that measures the amount of electricity generated, consumed, or fed back into the grid.
  • Microinverter: A small inverter installed behind each solar module, converting DC to AC at the panel level.
  • Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS): A tax depreciation system allowing businesses to recover the cost of solar PV systems over five years.
  • Module (Panel), PV: A solar panel composed of multiple solar cells.
  • Monocrystalline: Solar cells made from a single, large silicon crystal, known for their high efficiency and performance in low light.
  • Net Metering: A billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid beyond what they consume.
  • Off-Grid PV: A solar PV system that operates independently of the utility grid, typically using batteries for energy storage.
  • Optimizer, DC: A device connected to each solar panel that maximizes energy harvest by optimizing the DC output.
  • Peak Shaving: The process of reducing power use during peak demand periods to avoid high charges and reduce strain on the grid.
  • Peak Sun Hours (PSH): The number of hours in a day when solar irradiance averages 1,000 watts per square meter.
  • Photovoltaics (PV): Technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using solar cells.
  • PJM Interconnection: A regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, including Maryland.
  • Polycrystalline (Multi-crystalline): Solar cells made from silicon blocks with multiple small crystals, known for their lower cost and moderate efficiency.
  • Power, Electrical: The rate at which electrical energy is generated or transferred, measured in watts (W).
  • Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): A contract where a third party owns, operates, and maintains a solar system, and the customer agrees to purchase the system's electric output for a predetermined period.
  • Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE): A financing mechanism that allows property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects through property tax assessments.
  • Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) Charge Controller: A type of charge controller that pulses power to the battery bank, requiring the nominal voltage of the solar panel to match the battery bank.
  • Radiation, Solar: The energy emitted by the sun, which can be harnessed for solar power.
  • Rectifier: A device that converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).
  • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI): A market-based program that caps CO2 emissions from power plants and auctions CO2 allowances.
  • Renewable Energy: Energy sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, and hydropower.
  • Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs): Certificates representing the environmental benefits of generating one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity from renewable energy sources.
  • Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS): A state-level mandate requiring utilities to generate a specific percentage of their electricity from renewable sources.
  • Return on Investment (ROI): A measure of the profitability of an investment, calculated as the ratio of net profit to the initial investment cost.
  • Service Distribution Panel: The main electrical panel in a building that distributes electricity to various circuits.
  • Shared Solar: A solar energy system where multiple subscribers participate and receive credits on their utility bills for their portion of the power produced.
  • Soft Costs: Non-hardware costs associated with solar PV installations, such as permitting, financing, customer acquisition, and utility integration.
  • Solar Cooperative (Co-op): A community-driven model where members collectively own and manage a solar project, contributing to and controlling the cooperative's capital.
  • Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs): Certificates representing the environmental benefits of generating one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity from solar energy, which can be sold to utilities to meet renewable portfolio standards.
  • Special Purpose Entity (SPE): A business entity formed to develop a community solar project, often structured to take advantage of tax incentives.
  • String, PV: A series of PV modules connected together.
  • Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): Certificates representing the environmental benefits of generating one megawatt-hour of solar power, which can be bought and sold to meet RPS requirements.
  • Standard Test Conditions (STC): Specific conditions under which solar panels are tested and rated to ensure consistent performance measurements, including 1,000 W/m² irradiance, 25°C temperature, and 1.5 air mass.
  • State of Charge (SoC): The percentage of a battery's remaining capacity, the inverse of Depth of Discharge.
  • Subpanel: A secondary electrical panel that distributes power to specific circuits or loads.
  • Thin-film: A type of solar cell made from layers of photovoltaic material applied to a substrate, known for its flexibility and versatility.
  • Third-Party Ownership (TPO): A model where a third party owns and maintains the solar PV system, and the customer pays for the electricity generated or leases the system.
  • Transformer, Electrical: Devices that change the voltage of electricity for transmission and distribution.
  • Utility Grid: The network of power lines and infrastructure that delivers electricity to homes and businesses.
  • Utility-Scale Solar: Large solar energy projects that generate electricity for the grid, typically over 5 megawatts.
  • Virtual Net Metering (VNM): A billing mechanism that allows participants in a shared solar project to receive credits on their utility bills for their share of the power produced.
  • Voltage (V): The measure of electrical potential difference between two points, measured in volts (V).