Perth & Kinross Council
Small Scale Renewables Workshops
Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Small-scale Renewable technologies
 Wind turbines
 Hydro turbines
 Solar photovoltaic panels
 Anaerobic digestion
 Biomass heaters/boilers
 Solar hot water panels
 Heat pumps
Renewable Energy Sources
Solar Energy in the UK
The power in UK sunlight is about
1kW/m² on a clear sunny day.
Scotland
900 W/m²
Southern Europe
1500 W/m²
Southern US
2500 W/m²
Solar PV
Resource – Azimuth and tilt
Solar Photovoltaic Panels
How PV works
Modules are rated in
peak watts (Wp)
This is the maximum
output the array will
produce on a sunny
day in June
Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Solar Photovoltaic Types of Panels
Polycrystalline
Monocrystalline
Solar tiles
Solar Photovoltaic generation
Feasibility issues:



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Resource - shading
Connection
Planning
Reliability/warranty
Solar Photovoltaic - Installations
Key Components
PV Array 2kWp
To
dedicated
MCB in
fuse box
kWh meter
DC Isolator
AC Isolator
Inverter
Solar Photovoltaic Planning Issues
Some of the domestic micro renewables are permitted
development subject to a number of detailed restrictions.
Enquirers should check with the planning authority
about their specific circumstances.
Solar Photovoltaic - Installations
Solar Photovoltaic - Installations
Napier University
Opened 6/4/05
14.4kWp 32 rows x 6 panels
Area = 160m²
Annual electrical output = 11.8MWh
Total generation to date = 33.8MWh
Solar Photovoltaic - Installations
Ground mounted PV
Solar Photovoltaic
Feed in Tariff Example
Typical 4 kWp system generates around 3,000 kWh per year
3,000 kWh x 43.3p = £1,299 pa from FIT
Assuming 50% of generated electricity used on site
Savings on imported electricity:1,500 kWh x 12p = £180 pa
Remaining 50% exported to the grid:1,500kWh x 3.1p = £46 pa
Total Benefit from PV system = FIT + export + savings
£1,299 + £46 + £180 = £1,525 per year
Solar Photovoltaic
Notes
Assuming inflation at 2% and energy price inflation at 5%
Payback on a PV installation is typically between 10-12 years
depending on the proportion of generated electricity used on
site
To qualify for a feed in tariff the equipment and installer must be
Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
Solar PV
Case study:





80m² – 10 kWpeak
8,200 kWh per annum
Worth 37.8p/kWh = £3,100
Capex c. £35,000
20 yr performance warranty!
Annual Production
Assessing manufacturers’ claims
The turbine manufacturers rate their turbines as providing a certain output
at a given wind speed. Some rating definitions are those wind speeds
providing maximum output whilst others are less than maximum outputs at
different wind speeds. There is no industry standard.
The rating for a turbine is unlikely to be an indication of its actual energy
production.
Checking the claimed output rating against the likely efficiency
We know from the above that the maximum practical efficiency is around
35%. Most turbines work at efficiencies of between 22% - 31% at 10m/s
and between 17% - 26% at speeds of 12m/s. If we take the manufacturers
output rating for a given wind speed and insert it into the above output
equation and calculate the assumed efficiency, we can judge the
manufacturer’s claim.
Grid Connection
Distribution Network Operator
(DNO) is a company that:
 Owns, operates and maintains
a public electricity distribution
network
 Holds a Distribution Network
Operator Licence
There are seven DNOs in the UK.
Electrical Constraints

Up to 3.7 kW per phase
 No problem

Up to 50 kW in total
 Simplified connection procedure
 Permission required

Over 50 kW per phase
 Permission required
 3-phase supply required
Grid Connection
Three types of connections to DNO:
G83/1-1 Stage 1
Single Generator
<11Kw 3Phase or <3.66Kw 1phase
G83/1-1 Stage 2
Multiple Generators
<11Kw 3Phase or <3.66Kw 1phase
G59/2
Generators
>11Kw 3 Phase
Grid Connection
Electricity is fed directly into your fuse box or distribution board, providing
power to your premises. Any surplus electricity produced is ‘spilled’ to the
grid and purchased by a licensed electricity provider, depending on local
regulations.
Off Grid Connection
Battery Charging
Energy produced by the turbine is stored in batteries to provide power
supply. Most beneficial in remote locations which are not connected to the
grid, or which rely on a diesel/oil generator.
Installing a turbine can reduce fuel consumption by up to 95% and payback
for such sites can be immediate as alternative to expensive grid
connection. Positive environmental impact when fossil fuel is not used for
power generation.
Battery charge regulator used to prevent overcharging of the battery: If a
turbine system supplies more current than can be absorbed by the battery,
the charging current is reduced by the charging regulator.
Excess current transferred to a ‘dump load’, which can be utilised for
heating air or water.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Has your scheme installer got Microgeneration
Certification Scheme approval?
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an independent
scheme that certifies microgeneration products and installers in
accordance with consistent standards. It is designed to evaluate
microgeneration products and installers against strict criteria providing
greater protection for consumers. MCS applies to installations (product and
installer) in the 0-50kW range.
Checking that the equipment and installation company you are using has
MCS accreditation is essential, and best done at the very outset of any
project.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme
The MCS was designed to raise the level of quality starting with the plant
and extending to the installers.
The legal definition of Micro generation applied to products producing:
<50kW of power generation or <45kW of renewable heat.
MCS technologies include:
Solar PV | Wind power | Solar collectors | Biomass | CHP & Heat pumps
including:
GSHP Ground Source & ASHP Air Source.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme
MCS has now become a prerequisite for many schemes and also for
government tender lists.
For manufacturers the process is long winded and expensive. It involves
factory procedure inspections and witness tests.
For installers it involves inspections of compliance, stability and technical
ability to design, install and follow up.
e.g. A heat pump must achieve a specific CoP and it must have a full set
of test results.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Remember, clean energy cashbacks (Feed-in Tariffs) and
renewable heat incentives are only available to those
installations using MCS approved products and
installation companies.
All MCS registered suppliers and installers can be
checked on the MCS web site:
www.microgenerationcertification.org
Financial Assistance

A business to claim 100% first-year capital allowances on
their spending on qualifying plant and machinery.
Information available on web site - www.eca.gov.uk
 Carbon Trust Interest Free Loans - Funding has been
reduced and loan offering to be withdrawn from 28
March 2011
 New loan scheme to be launched in April 2011 backed by
the Carbon Trust who will assess cost, energy and
carbon savings.
 East of Scotland Investment Fund (ESIF) loan scheme
can provide finance for projects up to £50,000
Feed in tariff
Background to Feed-In Tariffs (FITs)?
To incentivise small scale (<5MW) low carbon electricity
generation
Scheme went live on 1 April 2010
Encourage deployment of additional low carbon electricity
generation, particularly by organisations, businesses,
communities and individuals who are not traditionally
engaged in the energy market.
Feed in tariff
How it works
The scheme provides a fixed payment for the electricity you
generate, called the “generation tariff”. It also pays for any
unused electricity that you export to the grid, the “export tariff”
Payments for:
Hydro
Wind
Solar PV
Anaerobic Digestion
A further benefit is that you won’t have to pay for electricity
that you generate and use yourself.
31
Feed in tariff – Issued April 2010
Feed in tariff – Update Feb 2011
Feed in Tariff Payment Rate Table with Retail Price Index adjustments
Description
Scale
Tariff received between 01 April
2011 and 31 March 2012*
(p/kWh)
Tariff Lifetime
(Years)
Anaerobic digestion
<500kW
12.1
20
Anaerobic digestion
>500kW
9.4
20
Hydro
<15kW
20.9
20
Hydro
15kW -100kW
18.7
20
Hydro
100kW-2MW
11.5
20
Hydro
>2MW
4.7
20
Solar Photovoltaic - (new build)
<4kW
37.8
25
Solar Photovoltaic - (retrofit)
< 4kW
43.3
25
Solar Photovoltaic
4kW - 10kW
37.8
25
Solar Photovoltaic
10kW - 100kW
32.9
25
Solar Photovoltaic
>100kW
30.7
25
30.7
25
Stand-alone system
Wind
<1.5kW
36.2
20
Wind
1.5kW - 15kW
28
20
Wind
15kW - 100kW
25.3
20
Wind
100kW - 500kW
19.7
20
Wind
500kW - 1.5MW
9.9
20
Wind
>1.5MW
4.7
20
EXPORT TARIFF
* Adjusted by the 2010 Retail Price Index of 4. 8% - 21 February 2011
3.1
Feed in tariff
 Aim to give return on capital of 5-8% in real terms
 Index linked to RPI
 UK Wide
 Guaranteed for 20 years (25 for PV)
 Aim is to generate 6TWh of electricity by 2020
(1.6% of UK generation)
 Review in 2012/13 then every 5 years
Feed in tariff
 Administered by Electricity Supplier
 Main Payment is Generation Tariff paid on every kWh generated
 Also paid when supplying surplus electricity into grid at a flat rate
payment of 3p/kWh or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
 Offsetting Electricity
 Revenue is tax free when generating electricity for domestic purposes
 An owner may assign FiT payments to a third party (subject to controls
to ensure risk of fraud and abuse is minimised) This should help where
the FiT revenue is assigned to the Bank which will help debt financing
Feed in tariff
Related Issues?
 Degression – affects PV (c. 9% p.a.) and smaller wind
installations (c. 4.5% p.a.) from 1st April 2012
 Max Capacity of 5MW
 Sites will be tightly defined
 Payment rate based on when the scheme starts generating
 Can receive FITs on different technologies on the same site
Feed in tariff
 No Feed in Tariff payments for reconditioned or second
hand equipment
 Equipment & Installer must have MCS accreditation
approval (up to 50kW)
 Do not use second hand equipment, often cannot get
spare parts
 Important to select renewables and installers with good
track record
 Avoid cheap imports!
 Check warranty period – need 5 years
Feed in tariff
Why would the Feed in Tariff Interest Me?
 You have the resource – Land/Water/Wind/Solar
 Rates index linked and guaranteed income for 20 years
(or 25)
 Great opportunity to develop diversified income stream
for your business
 Offset electricity usage on property
 Reduce your carbon footprint
 Increase your profit!
Feed in tariff
Impact of Spending Review?
 They will be refocused on the most cost-effective
technologies saving £40m in 2014-15.
 Changes will be implemented at the first scheduled review
of tariffs (in 2013)
 Changes won't be announced until 2012
 The expectation is that industry costs will fall over time,
reducing the need for the FiT
Assessing Alternative Projects
 Where do I start?
 What do I need to consider?
 How much do they cost?
 What is the likely return?
 Which is the best equipment for my circumstance?
 Prefeasibility study should narrow down options available
 Assess the likely returns over 20 years?
 How realistic are the assumptions I am given?
 Where are extra costs likely to appear?
Pre Feasibility Study
What should you consider?
 A site survey, including detailed photographic survey and technical
measurements
 Comparisons between different technologies
 Energy generation estimates based on local data
 Examination of likely environmental issues
 Capital costs
 Financial returns
 An appraisal of the grid connection issues on site and to the substation
 An assessment of the likelihood of obtaining planning permission,
including application costs and time scales.
Conclusion – Solar Photovoltaic
 Identify an exposed site, clear of nearby obstructions with
access for the installation.
 Commission on independent onsite survey to give advice
and assessment of the location and likely benefits
 Contact an MCS-accredited installer for a quotation for the
equipment
 Check you can connect the panels to your property and the
grid.
 Contact the local authority to check if there are any planning
restrictions.