Paynesville Community Solar — United States of America
Solar power plant in Minnesota, United States of America. Approximate location 45.4025, -94.7155.
SolarMinnesotaUnited States of America
Paynesville Community Solar is a 5 MW solar power plant in Minnesota, United States of America. It is operated by Paynesville Community Solar. Based on reported annual generation of 5 GWh, it can supply roughly 1.5k homes. It ranks #6957 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2017, it is around 9 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 8.6% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0060715.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000814446; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 5 MW, Paynesville Community Solar is well above the median solar plant in United States of America (3 MW). Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 12%, from 5 GWh of reported generation; the median for 3185 solar plants in United States of America that report generation is 19%
- Generation trend
- 8 GWh in 2017 and 5 GWh in 2019 (−34%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2018: 9 GWh; 2019: 5 GWh
- Share of United States of America solar capacity
- less than 0.1% of 38,093 MW across 3,283 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1,708 of 3,277 dated solar plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Paynesville Community Solar.
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 45.4°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 81% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 90/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.0% at warm-season highs here (estimate).
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with thermal cycling the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #1095 largest solar power plant of 3283 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 3283 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 38,093 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Capricornus Community Solar Garden · Solar · 1 MW · Minnesota
- Paynesville Solar · Solar · 10 MW · Minnesota
- Canopus Community Solar · Solar · 1 MW · Minnesota
- Deneb Community Solar · Solar · 1 MW · Minnesota
- Richmond CSG · Solar · 5 MW · Minnesota
- Lahr 1 LLC · Solar · 5 MW · Minnesota
Location
Coordinates 45.4025, -94.7155 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Paynesville Community Solar?
Paynesville Community Solar is a 5 MW solar power plant in Minnesota, United States of America, commissioned in 2017.
How much electricity does Paynesville Community Solar generate?
Paynesville Community Solar generates about 5 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Paynesville Community Solar?
Paynesville Community Solar is operated by Paynesville Community Solar.