Growing interest in solar in Northern Ireland
The sharp decrease in the cost of installing solar panels and the increase in energy prices has resulted in a growing interest in solar PV from farms in Northern Ireland.
Coupled with the 50% grant available for approved systems under NI’s Rural Development Programme, there’s no better time to make your own electricity.
David Trimble, Renewable Energy Technologist from CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise), answers some basic questions.
(Photo provided by SolarPorts Ltd.)
What are the costs of a PV system?
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“The cost to install each kWp will vary depending on the scale of the system and the quality of the materials used.”
Some possible prices are:
- A 3 to 4 kWp system costs between £10,000 and £12,000
- A 6.5 kWp system costs from £15,000 to £18,000
- A 50 kWp system could cost as little as £80,000
How much electricity do these systems produce?
“Output from PV systems can be as high as 800 kWh for each kWp, so a 20 kWp system could generate 16,000 kWh per year. If all of this is used on site then it is worth £5,280 a year at current electricity prices.
“The output of electricity from the panels will typically decline by about 1% each year. The life span of the panels will be 20 to 25 years and possibly considerably longer.”
What is the income in Northern Ireland from a PV system?
“The economics of PV systems depend on both the value of the electricity produced and the payments under the Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) scheme.
The ROCs are paid to the owner of the PV panels by electricity generating companies as an encouragement to produce green energy. Currently approved systems up to 50 kW capacity receive a rate of 4 ROCs, which is approximately 17 pence per kWh generated. Systems above 50 kW receive 2 ROCs per kWh. There are proposals to support systems up to 10 kW capacity with 5 ROCs from April 2013 onwards. The ROCs are payable to the electricity supplier for a period of 20 years.”
What is important in a farm based PV system?
“Damage to the panels from ammonia can be an issue, especially on roof mounted panels on pig and poultry units. Panels can be tested for resistance to ammonia in the air and this gives a guide to their suitability on your farm.
It is ideal if you can use 100% of the electricity generated in your farm business. It is more profitable to substitute for electricity costing almost 17 pence per kWh than to sell to the grid at around 6 pence per kWh. This means that PV systems are more suitable for pig and poultry enterprises, as the power output will more closely match the demands of the unit.”