Solar Feed In Tariff Website

Since our last article on Solar farms the market has moved forward at an incredible pace. In June and July of this year the acreage value being offered for land rental was around £500-1000 per acre for a 25 year period.

As the time to build out the sites has reduced and the governments March 2012 date coming closer for the reduction in tariffs companies have become increasingly competitive in there offers and institutional investors have had to re-assess their potential returns in order to secure site in this green energy land grab. I have heard companies saying the increases that took 8 years in Wind turbine sites have happened in a few months in solar farm land.

So what is the current land value for a 5MW farm site? Usually between (25-30 acres). Companies are now offering between £50k-70k per annum. This is a huge and exciting step forward, it gives farmers a chance for a true long term income which in some cases will be life changing.

The only risk now is that of time-scales, planning has to be submitted over the next couple of months to have any chance of a site receiving the largest FIT. Once the opportunity for the full FIT is lost companies will again drop the prices they can offer and the land owners who have been sitting on the fence will have missed out.

It is still key that you speak with a company who can demonstrate proof of funding, experience in renewable energy planning applications and partners in place to build out and maintain the site.

If you have suitable land:

• 25-40 Acres
• Flat or South facing,
• Not overlooked,
• Grazing or low level agricultural land,
• Close to a substation or power lines

and you would like your site assessed for potential solar development email me at elliot@solarfeedintariff.co.uk.

Tags: build a solar farm, farm finance, finance, how to finance solar, i have land for sale, land for sale, land for solar farms, need help to find land for solar, sell land for solar, solar finance, solar land

Solarfeedintariff.co.uk has received hundreds of enquiries asking how the coalition government’s Spending Review will impact on feed-in tariffs. Feed-in tariffs, in the UK known as the Clean Energy Cash Back scheme were introduced as a way of incentivising investment in green energy through the payment of fixed, premium rates for energy generated from small scale renewable projects. Most of the enquiries coming through this website have focused specifically on how the Spending Review will affect UK solar projects so we will seek to answer some of the most popular queries.

How will the Spending Review affect Feed-in Tariffs?

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has stated that the tariffs will now be focused on the most cost-effective technologies and fortunately, this includes solar pv. The DECC has said,

“Feed-in tariffs will be refocused on the most cost-effective technologies saving £40m in 2014-15. The changes will be implemented at the first scheduled review of tariffs [in 2012, to kick in 2013] unless higher than expected deployment requires an early review.”

While rates for solar projects will remain unchanged, the government has announced that changes could be made in the 2012 review which could see the tariff cut by 10 per cent in 2014 and 2015. Rates paid by the tariff could be effected by what the DECC have termed a ‘Trigger Point’ where a figure for solar installation is met, reducing the tariff payments.

When will the Trigger Point take affect?

No announcement has been made as yet on the Trigger Point criteria but is likely to revolve around something like installed capacity or applications to install. We will not hear anything until 2012 at which point the government will have to revisit the legislation because currently there is no mention of trigger points in the tariff scheme.

When is the best time to install?

Perhaps one of the most common questions coming to us through our website is the question of the best time to install solar pv panels in order to start taking advantage of the feed-in tariffs. Our answer is always, right away! As it currently stands, you will be able to take advantage of rates of 41.3p until 2012 for units of energy generated from your solar panels. If, however there is a massive take up in solar installation within the next 2 years, the government may decide to reduce the tariff for future installations.

How will any changes affect people who have already installed?

It won’t. Contracts are fixed meaning that anyone who signs up for a tariff rate of 41.3p for units of energy generated can expect those payments for the next 25 years.

Solarfeedintariff.co.uk along with a number of environmental groups are happy with the way solar pv projects are safeguarded amongst the government’s drastic spending review. Now is certainly the time to take advantage of high tariff rates and generate revenue for your household for the next quarter of a century.

Tags: DECC, Department of Energy and Climate Change, FITs, Solar Feed In Tariff, solar investments, solar panels, solar PV, spending review, trigger point