News

Posts tagged with: PV

While photovoltaic generated electricity remains politically controversial in some parts of the world, for Tokelau, it will provide a cost-effective and environmentally sound solution for the entire territory in the coming months.

Tokelau comprises three atolls in the South Pacific. Photovoltaic arrays have currently been installed on one island, and the installation of another two systems are scheduled to be complete by this October. Overall, 4,032 modules, 392 inverters and 1,344 batteries will provide electricity supply for the island. The first system on the atoll Fakaofo will be switched on in two weeks.

New Zealand solar company, Powersmart is supplying and installing the project. Due to the island locations of the installations, they will have to be able to withstand cyclone force winds up to 230 km/h.

Previously Tokelau relied entirely on expensive diesel to provide electricity between 15 and 18 hours a day. The territory has a population of 1,500 people across a combined land area of 10 square kilometers. Around 200 liters of fuel were previously burned for electricity daily. This required around 2,000 barrels to be shipped from New Zealand at a cost of NZD1 million (US$810,000) a year.

Powersmart director, Mike Bassett-Smith said the solution on Tokelau can be an example across the South Pacific. “Energy costs underpin the economic and social development of these nations and making a positive impact on these issues is the single most important reason we started this business.”

The company claims the project is the largest off-grid solar power project in the world and the largest solar system in the South Pacific. Coconut-oil fired generators will provide backup capacity for cloudy days.

The Tokelau project has come at a cost of NZD7.5 million (US$6.11 million) and was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Even at today’s diesel prices, the array will have paid for itself in less than a decade.

The change is being welcomed by the Tokelauan community. “It’s going to be an amazing change from using fossil fuel,” says Foua Toloa. “It avoids expenses, but also bringing them there, it’s dangerous and any spill will affect the environment.”

After testing is complete on Fakaofo, work will commence on the remaining atolls of Atafu and Nukunon.

Originally published on PV Magazine.


As the Government’s solar energy Feed in Tariff is reduced to 21p per kilowatt generated, and the 2012 deadline brought forward; consumers have been left confused as to what this means for the future of solar energy in the UK.

 

Save Energy Renewables, part of the Save Energy Group, has been in the renewable energy sector since 2002, long before the government feed in tariff was introduced in April 2010.  The introduction of the tariff, at 41p per kilowatt generated, was designed to kick start the take up of renewable energy in the UK and bring us in line with leading European countries such as Germany.  In its second year the tariff increased to 43.3p, but was widely regarded by the industry as high and unlikely to sustain.

 

The tariff is reviewed on an annual basis and was due to change again from March 31st 2012, with much speculation as to what that might be.  The announcement came on the 31st October that the new figure would be reduced to 21p, however, what the industry was not expecting was the 12th December 2011 cut off point – fast-tracked from the original 2012 deadline.  Therefore, only solar PV systems installed and commissioned by this date would be eligible for the 43.3p tariff.  This put an unprecedented strain on the renewable energy industry, and will almost certainly result in many smaller companies, or those with a less than perfect infrastructure going out of business.

 

As to why this date was brought forward, lies heavily in the surge for ‘free solar’ with companies setting up to take advantage of the tariff by renting roof space from consumers who benefited from reduced energy bills, while they reap earnings from the tariff for the next twenty five years.  The budget put in place to assist homeowners simply ran out.

 

The new tariff rate of 21p is now set at a sustainable level for the long term. It will ensure the tariff is available for its predicted lifespan, until the cost of the energy rises to meet the percentage that can be earned through the tariff – namely grid parity.   Steve Randall, Sales & Marketing Director: “This is extremely good news and represents a very healthy 8-10% increasing return on investment for those who choose renewable energy as the way forward.  It also represents twice what can be achieved by the high street banks.  As a business we count ourselves among the lucky ones, with a strong infrastructure both logistically and financially.  As we have been in the business for over a decade we also have strong buying power with suppliers, savings we can pass to our customers.”

 

Solar energy has been embraced by the UK for many years due to the inevitable savings on energy bills.  The fact that the cost of energy will only rise will see consumers continue to do so with the added benefit of the feed in tariff which is all the more attractive here in the South which enjoys far longer hours of daylight than the North.

 

Steve Randall concludes:  “The best way for consumers to judge whether solar energy is for them is to look at their electricity bill today, and multiply that by the life of the tariff which is twenty five years.  The option is rent your energy at a rising cost per year, or take ownership of it today. There is further good news in the marketplace as we have seen product prices lower and level out, so when visitors come to our showroom we are able to share more attractive pricing terms.

steve.randall@saveenergygroup.co.uk

 


 

 

Yesterday saw an explosion in productivity at the rumor mill regarding the solar energy Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and it’s impending review. With sources from all over the industry and high exposure media such as Financial Times jumping on board the scaremongering bandwagon, let’s take stock once again and remember the facts of where we are up to.

To read the full article, click here.

The Feed-in Tariff Review

As we understand it, the Comprehensive Spending Review championing the government’s budget overhaul into spending includes a review of the solar FiT. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is the authority on this matter, and only their official release will bring about the changes and outline to what extent cuts will be made.

One thing that figures from Ofgem are highlighting is that installation rates are much higher than what they anticipated. The current rates cannot be sustained at this exponential growth level. The boom is most certainly in full swing, and the bust now appears to be approaching in all its foreboding and unstoppable glory.

“Unless Earlier Action is Deemed Necessary”

The DECC, in speaking with industry sources has released the following statement:

“As we’ve previously said, all tariffs in the scheme are being considered in the Comprehensive Review and we will be consulting on proposals later this year. We’ve made clear that tariffs will remain unchanged until April 2012 unless the review indicates the need for greater urgency. There has been no announcement about the review so any rumors about its content are just that, rumours and speculation.” (Source)

In simple terms, nothing has changed at this point and we are no closer to understanding exactly when they will. The media storm has cracked through the sky, but the underlying realities of our situation remain. There is little doubt that the review will decrease the FiT rate by some extent, and also increasingly less doubt that the changes will be brought about before April 2012.

The only concrete truths the industry has to offer are that if you’re installed prior to the changes you will receive an enviable rate on your solar power for many, many years. If you do not, you won’t.

Written by Jarrah Harburn

jarrah@solarselections.co.uk

T: 0844 567 9835

© Solar Selections Pty Ltd 2011

 

 

The UK is in the midst of a race to install solar PV on its roof-tops from domestic dwellings to schools, hospitals, council buildings and agricultural sheds.  All this is being driven by the Feed- In-Tariff (“FIT”) that has been put in place since April 2010 by the UK Government, to support renewable energy generators to invest in technology such as solar PV.  The FIT provides an index-linked subsidy for power generated for 25 years, providing an ideal investment asset for pension funds and long-term investors.

Whilst roof-top solar no doubt has its place, an innovative company based in Scotland and Somerset, SolParks, has looked further afield and brought another variant of solar PV to the UK market – the solar car canopy.

The solar canopy is a structure built over a car parking space with solar PV panels mounted on its top. The canopies bring a number of direct user benefits such as shelter in poor weather, keeps cars shaded from the heat of the sun and can add further to user amenity, by adding in electric vehicle charging points (powered by renewable power, rather than mains) and using LED lighting under the canopies, which can be sensor operated, rather than large street lighting, to provide bright, safe car parking.

The power generated by the solar PV can be supplied direct to the car park owner, or can be supplied to the national grid.

The environmental and user benefits are obvious but also extend to easing legal issues between landlord and solar PV operator.

Elliot Roe of Solparks says “we researched the market for more innovative solutions for solar PV and found car park canopies in both France and USA, where the markets are far larger.   The benefits in the UK are obvious as well and we are innovating even further by using the FITs to enhance the financial benefits for users.”

Solparks is looking for installations of 12 car parking spaces up to 100.   Roe goes on to say “we can provide the installation to a site owner without any cost to them.  We undertake the planning consent, construction works, grid connection and pay for the canopies and solar PV.  The user in return receives discounted power and gains the benefits for their car park users.   The power they can’t use on site is exported to the grid.”

Using the power generated from solar PV on site can save the landowner power costs and can provide a valuable hedge against the threat of rising electricity prices. It also sends a strong, visible, message to customers about green credentials.

Roe says “ we are happy to work with any size of car park owner; however, an ideal customer would be one with multiple car parks. That way the customer achieves wide spread benefit, and the amount of power generated becomes a meaningful contribution to reducing their power bills.”

Solparks feels its solution offers much more simplicity for building owners.  The solar PV doesn’t compromise the core building, no structural surveys or reinforcements are needed and we can also accommodate re-development much more readily.

So why, given all these advantages, is the product limited to 100 spaces in any one location ?  Roe comments that “the changes in the FIT from 1 August make it very difficult, with the FIT alone, to achieve the sorts of levels of returns that are needed to fund a roll-out on a larger scale.  There are other commercial solutions that could be looked at to achieve much larger deployments however and we would be delighted to hear from any potential Solparks customer”

Solparks provides a fully turn-key service to those wanting to purchase rather than lease.  The service includes planning, grid connection, Ofgem accreditation, procurement of all materials and onsite installation. Solparks can also provide an ongoing operation, maintenance, monitoring and reporting service.

The Solparks product comes with a full 25 year warranty over the steel and PV installations plus a 2 year workmanship warranty.

And what of electric vehicle transportation ?    Solparks believes solar car parking can play a large role in the infrastructure needed for electric vehicles – both cars and scooters.    Roe says “adding charging points below the canopies, powered by the sun, is an easy next step and can provide further amenity to customers”.

Given the benefits, we expect to see many Solparks installations starting to appear, and provides large car park owners with another potential revenue stream from an asset that they already own.

For more information email elliot@solarfeedintariff.co.uk