The land area required for solar parks varies depending on the location,[18] and on the efficiency of the solar modules,[19] the slope of the site[20] and the type of mounting used. Fixed tilt solar arrays using typical modules of about 15% efficiency[21] on horizontal sites, need about 1 hectare/MW in the tropics and this figure rises to over 2 hectares in northern Europe.[18]
Because of the longer shadow the array casts when tilted at a steeper angle,[22] this area is typically about 10% higher for an adjustable tilt array or a single axis tracker, and 20% higher for a 2-axis tracker,[23] though these figures will vary depending on the latitude and topography.[24]
The best locations for solar parks in terms of land use are held to be brown field sites, or where there is no other valuable land use.[25] Even in cultivated areas, a significant proportion of the site of a solar farm can also be devoted to other productive uses, such as grazing[26][27] or biodiversity.[