March 28, 2026
Battery Storage vs Solar Leases in Illinois: Which Pays More?
Compare battery energy storage leases to solar farm leases in Illinois — earnings per acre, land requirements, and which is the better deal for landowners.
If you own land in northern Illinois, you may have been approached about both solar farm leases and battery storage leases. While both are clean energy projects that pay landowners for use of their property, battery storage leases pay dramatically more per acre and use a fraction of the land.
The key difference: density
Solar farms require large, contiguous parcels — typically 5 to 7 acres per megawatt. A 20 MW solar farm needs 100-140 acres of open land. Battery storage, by contrast, fits approximately 10 MW per acre. A 20 MW battery project needs just 2 acres.
This density difference is the reason battery leases pay so much more per acre.
Earnings comparison
| Solar Lease | Battery Lease | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical lease rate | $800-$1,500/acre/yr | $80,000-$120,000/acre/yr |
| Land for 10 MW project | 50-70 acres | ~1 acre |
| Annual income (10 MW) | $40,000-$105,000 | $80,000 |
| Impact on farming | Entire parcel removed from production | Minimal — small fenced area only |
| Lease term | 20-30 years | 20-25 years |
| Annual escalation | 1-2% | 2% |
When solar makes more sense
Solar leases can still be attractive if you have a large amount of marginal land that isn't productive for farming, or if your property doesn't have the grid infrastructure needed for battery storage (proximity to substations with available capacity).
When battery storage wins
If your property is near a ComEd substation with available capacity, battery storage is almost always the better option because:
- You keep 98-99% of your land for farming
- Earnings per acre are 80-100x higher
- The visual and operational impact is minimal
- The project footprint is small enough that it doesn't affect property value or farming operations
Can you do both?
Yes. Some landowners lease part of their property for solar and a small portion for battery storage. Battery storage actually complements solar because it stores excess solar generation for use during peak hours. Developers increasingly co-locate battery and solar projects.
To see what your land could earn with battery storage, use our earnings calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is a battery storage lease better than a solar lease?
For most Illinois landowners near ComEd infrastructure, yes. Battery storage pays $80,000-$120,000 per acre per year versus $800-$1,500 per acre for solar. Battery projects also use far less land — about 1 acre for a 10 MW project versus 50-70 acres for a 10 MW solar farm.
Can I have both solar and battery storage on my land?
Yes. Some landowners lease part of their property for solar and a small portion for battery storage. Battery storage complements solar because it stores excess generation for peak hours.