>50kWp systems. Dead forever?

[SolarCity]

We went to speak to a customer earlier this week who wanted to fill a field with panels. He has a budget of £2.5 million pound (!) and wanted us to put some figures together for him. This was the first time that I had put figures together on a >50kWp system since the FITs review and they're not good. The payback period is huge and the installation just isn't economical.

When I design a large scale system and realise just how small a 50kWp system really is, I can't help thinking that Chris Huhne has dropped a massive skin nut.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

I believe the reasoning behind this is to stop said multi millionaire/s popping up sites purely for financial gain. The focus of the FIT is to encourage take-up at the lower end of the market and spread the wealth.

 

[SolarCity]

Fair enough. And I'd agree on >300-400kWp sites, but 50kWp is tiny. Doesn't the market need this kind of system to help it along?

 

[Graeme Harrold]

That would be a gid about 22m along each length see what you mean, not a lot.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

FIT News on Segen Site


(If aany body is reedin this fae Aberdeen, FIT is nae what!, but Feed in Tariff!!!!!

 

[SolarCity]

Yeah, but it's difficult to understand how anything above 50kWp could be considered large scale. About 220A or so.

 

[Worcester]

We're actually working with 2 clients on large scale commercial roofs, each one could take just around 200kWp. Looks like neither will go ahead now. An even bigger shame, because they actually use that amount of power on each of the sites anyway, so would have actually been reducing their carbon footprint as well as generating ...
In that instance Chris Huhne definitely shot himself in the foot.

 

[SolarCity]

If they're actually using the electricity then it does start becoming economical. The site I'm looking at at the moment is export only.

 

[malcolmsanford]

We're actually working with 2 clients on large scale commercial roofs, each one could take just around 200kWp. Looks like neither will go ahead now. An even bigger shame, because they actually use that amount of power on each of the sites anyway, so would have actually been reducing their carbon footprint as well as generating ...
In that instance Chris Huhne definitely shot himself in the foot.

So what is stopping them from using the system, initial outlay of the system? or the fact that they will not be making a profit from other electrical users that can not afford PV systems, and are being taxed to support the industry.

 

[Worcester]

So what is stopping them from using the system, initial outlay of the system? or the fact that they will not be making a profit from other electrical users that can not afford PV systems, and are being taxed to support the industry.

It was being considered as a business investment and being judged on its ROI merits, if the FIT rates are changed it affects ROI and so therefore an alternative investment (say buy another commercial property and let it out) may have a better ROI. Business is Business.