Renting land for photovoltaics is a profitable business that is becoming increasingly popular. If you own unused land, rather than selling it or leaving it unused, it is better to allocate it to an activity that is useful for the planet and brings some income.

How does ground rent for photovoltaics work? How much do you earn?

How does land rent for photovoltaics work?

Land rental for photovoltaics could indeed prove to be an economically and environmentally satisfying business. To begin with, it is good to rely on investors in the field of renewable energy.

Viridis Energia is active throughout Italy and makes it possible to sell or rent land safely, while leading the country in the energy transition towards sustainability.

If the land meets a number of requirements, which vary from investor to investor, the investor will bear all the costs of installing photovoltaics. The requirements concern:

• the size of the land
• the gradient, which must be flat and mostly with a regular surface
• continuous sun exposure
• proximity to the power line or transformer cabin in the area
• absence of urban, landscape or environmental constraints.

The investor himself carries out the inspection to verify the above-mentioned conditions. The contract is then drawn up with all the information about the collaboration.

How much money can be made by renting land for photovoltaics?

What seems to be of most interest to landowners is the profit to be made from renting land for photovoltaics. The figures vary greatly depending on the investor and the characteristics of the land. They start from a profit of EUR 2000 per hectare per year up to a maximum of EUR 4000, although EUR 2500 is usually the most common figure.

Certainly, photovoltaic systems installed on the ground allow the owner to earn more money. Instead, those placed on sheds, being smaller in size and probably requiring the disposal of asbestos or asbestos-cement, offer less income.

Land rental for photovoltaics: taxes

Another concern of landowners is the taxation of rent for photovoltaics. The news is not bad: there is no tax if the owner has owned the land for more than five years.

In the case of a recent purchase, there is a registration tax at a rate of 0.5 per cent for rustic land and agricultural land, and 2 per cent in other cases.

What happens at the end of the contract?

Photovoltaic lease contracts have a term agreed with the investor. At the end of the term, the landowner can decide to renew the contract or terminate it.

In the latter case, the investor is obliged to remove the entire installation at his own expense.

What are the advantages?

• First of all, like any other form of rent, the owner of the land or rooftop earns a certain annual income, ranging from EUR 2,000 to EUR 4,000 per year per hectare, granted.
• The investor bears all the costs of analysing land requirements, installing the panels and dismantling them.
• Earnings from the land are obtained with less effort, compared to tilling it for the agricultural market.
• Photovoltaic projects are reversible, as no methods or materials are used that leave ruts or substances in the ground. Viridis Energia, for example, does not use concrete, gases or chemicals that could damage the earth.
• A photovoltaic system emits no harmful substances into the air or water and therefore has no impact on people’s health.
• A photovoltaic system allows large amounts of clean energy to be produced to power neighbouring areas.
• The market is growing, and annual earnings growth is expected.

Visit the dedicated Viridis Energia section and start earning money and making the planet cleaner.