BeGreen has its roots in Denmark, where 490 GWh is produced yearly. We have a solid pipeline underway in Sweden – with projects from southern Skåne up to the northern coastal landscapes. We are constantly looking for more potential land to lease, from 15 hectares and upwards.
How can a landowner know if their land is suitable for solar park establishment?
Pontus: Whether an area has good conditions or not is something we, together with our colleagues, investigate; a landowner doesn’t need to check this themselves. We always conduct thorough analyses before contacting a landowner for further dialogue. We want the park to have as little impact on the environment, wildlife, landscape, and nearby residents as possible.
Paul: Other important parameters include access to grid connection, topography, and the terrain of the site. We have all the expertise required to develop a solar park project from cradle to grave – and all the way to the last step of recycling the material!
What type of land is suitable for solar parks?
Pontus: We usually look at agricultural and forest land. Good conditions for solar park establishment are areas with good solar radiation, i.e., southern and central Sweden or northwards along the coasts. It is advantageous to have flat, contiguous areas, but it isn’t always a must. Then, of course, access to grid infrastructure is important, which can take some time to investigate properly.
How does your work proceed concretely?
Pontus: We have access to various mapping services and analysis tools, and with their help, we investigate different geographical data to identify potential land areas. For example, we avoid various forms of protected areas. When we have identified interesting land, we usually contact the landowner for an initial conversation, usually by phone, followed by a physical meeting. We often go out on a site visit together with the landowner during our first meetings.
What challenges do you face in your daily work?
Paul: It can sometimes be difficult to get hold of the landowners we want to talk to, but when we do get in touch, most people are very positive about solar energy; many may already have solar panels on the roofs of their properties, for example. But of course, not everyone have the possibility to spare large areas for solar power production, and we have great respect for that!
Can you give examples of what is included in the lease agreements?
Pontus: Generally, there are three payment options – a fixed price per hectare per year, which is index-regulated throughout the contract period. Or you can agree on a variable lease compensation that constitutes a fixed percentage of the solar park’s revenue. Or, a hybrid agreement, i.e., a combination of the first two options.
What happens after the lease agreement is signed?
Paul: After the agreement is signed, we take care of everything; the landowner doesn’t need to apply for anything or incur any costs for the development of the solar park. During the application period, existing land use can continue unchanged.
Pontus: We handle all formal applications and dialogue with authorities and prepare an environmental impact assessment if required. We also believe it is important to start a dialogue with neighbours early on to inform them about the process and create understanding and consensus. We also enter into agreements to connect the park to the grid.
How long does a lease agreement last?
Paul: Our lease agreements usually last up to 40 years, which is the technical lifespan of a solar park today. These are long contract periods, but many see the stable source of income as something that can facilitate, for example, generational changes, an early retirement, or provide the agricultural business with an additional income.
Pontus: What many like about BeGreen is that we remain strongly committed to our parks throughout their lifespan – our ambition is to develop, operate, and own our parks ourselves, which many find reassuring. This is quite unique in the industry today!
What happens when the park is in operation?
Paul: BeGreen is responsible for operation and maintenance throughout the park’s lifespan. We are also responsible for the management of the land and any agricultural activities in the solar park throughout the lease period unless the landowner wants to manage it themselves. After the lease period ends, we handle dismantling, recycling of materials, and restoration of the land.
What are the most common questions you get from landowners?
Pontus: Besides specific questions about lease agreements, we have many conversations are about the grid, permits, and the energy system as a whole. We often discuss how solar energy can complement other sources of energy such as wind, hydro, and nuclear energy. It is inspiring to see that so many people care about the bigger picture and not just about the individual business, which aligns perfectly with our company’s values. A common misconception is that one single landowner must contribute very large plots to a solar park project, but that is not the case. If the land areas are sufficiently close to each other, it is usually totally fine to have several owners’ plots in the same solar park project.
Are there any key factors in the land development process?
Paul: Besides the availability of capacity in the grids, I would say that a success factor is the cooperation and dialogue with the landowner. They often have extremely good local knowledge, know their land inside and out, and can highlight aspects we may not have thought of during our analyses in front of the computer.
Are there any key factors in the land development process?
Pontus: It is incredibly rewarding. The goal of our job is to find a calculation that benefits both parties. We want to create a win-win collaboration that also benefits the climate and the energy supply in Sweden. The countryside is close to my heart, and it is very enjoyable to work with landowners who often are driven entrepreneurs with great ingenuity. The fact that we can provide the landowner’s business with an additional source of income through our lease agreements feels incredibly good!
