Solar farms without subs - what the appetite for it?

[Happy]

A friend told me he was considering solar but had no idea who to talk to. Any companies out there to go to or ones to avoid? (Pm if appropriate)
Next door considered it to the point of getting the electric people to put up a couple of new poles. It came to a halt when the subsidy was removed. Is this likely to mean the ability to connect has been bagged by someone else?

Wondering the same but not sure where to start.
Got a 33kv line running through the farm with tranformer from it supplying farm & house. Been told that is rather unusual as they prefer to supply end users from 11kv lines rather than the 33kv ones. Could this be advantageous?
Also got a 33kv switchstation here too. What’s the difference between that and a substation?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Wondering the same but not sure where to start.
Got a 33kv line running through the farm with tranformer from it supplying farm & house. Been told that is rather unusual as they prefer to supply end users from 11kv lines rather than the 33kv ones. Could this be advantageous?
Also got a 33kv switchstation here too. What’s the difference between that and a substation?

I’d start with an agent. If you are feeling brave you can approach the Dno yourself and ask them to give you some idea of what grid is about. there is an element of chicken and egg with planning, some go for planning first or at least a pre app to see if the planning potential is there.

AFAIK sub station is to step up / down the voltage, switch gear is just that, a big expensive handle you hang off to shut down the circuit!

 

[D14]

Bu


But much longer Leases...

20-25 years.

 

[D14]

Wondering the same but not sure where to start.
Got a 33kv line running through the farm with tranformer from it supplying farm & house. Been told that is rather unusual as they prefer to supply end users from 11kv lines rather than the 33kv ones. Could this be advantageous?
Also got a 33kv switchstation here too. What’s the difference between that and a substation?

I'd say you are more likely to get something than most if you have 33kva line, Its definitely worth a punt.

 

[HarryB97]

Wondering the same but not sure where to start.
Got a 33kv line running through the farm with tranformer from it supplying farm & house. Been told that is rather unusual as they prefer to supply end users from 11kv lines rather than the 33kv ones. Could this be advantageous?
Also got a 33kv switchstation here too. What’s the difference between that and a substation?

From memory the 33kv lines cost a forutne to join several million compared to a few hundred k for the smaller lines. You need hundreds of acres to consider it

 

[Doing it for the kids]

From memory the 33kv lines cost a forutne to join several million compared to a few hundred k for the smaller lines. You need hundreds of acres to consider it

Not certain of figures but 33kva won’t carry hundred of acres. 132kva can just about

 

[Exfarmer]

Not certain of figures but 33kva won’t carry hundred of acres. 132kva can just about

Surely 100 acres = about 25,000 Kva at .25Kwp / acre
this would equate to .75 amps on a 33 Kva line or have i got my point in the wrong place?

 

[sjt01]

Surely 100 acres = about 25,000 Kva at .25Kwp / acre
this would equate to .75 amps on a 33 Kva line or have i got my point in the wrong place?

I think you have got kWp swapped for MWp

 

[Exfarmer]

I think you have got kWp swapped for MWp

I think you are right!

 

[steveR]

20-25 years.

That's good. I am exploring another PV farm and they want 30-40yrs! Not sure I can buy that...

 

[Doing it for the kids]

That's good. I am exploring another PV farm and they want 30-40yrs! Not sure I can buy that...

With you there. 20 - 25 years is a long time but 30 - 40 is pushing it!

 

[steveR]

With you there. 20 - 25 years is a long time but 30 - 40 is pushing it!

Might see the end of a 25 year lease... not a chance on 40, and should I lock the land up that long.... My call, but I do feel twitchy!

 

[HarryB97]

Might see the end of a 25 year lease... not a chance on 40, and should I lock the land up that long.... My call, but I do feel twitchy!

I doubt they would extend it beyond 20-25 years as by then there will be much more efficient and constant forms of non fossil fuel power sources.

 

[D14]

Before the tariffs were dropped for example a 15mw solar farm would turn over about £1.8 million per year which would be made up of very roughly 50% tariff and 50% elec generation. So over a 20 year lease without index linking they were looking at total income before costs of around £36 million. Build costs would be around £15 million so potentially £20 million profit before annual operating costs. Remember these boys won't of borrowed to build the farm either. I know one company who built 38 of varying sizes around the world and it was self funded.
Now without the tariff they are looking at slightly less build costs due to a reduction in material costs but still using a 15mw as an example a turnover of about 1 million in elec sales, so immediately they are around £16 million adrift over the 20 year life cycle. Add it all up approximately and with tariffs the profit before operating costs would be £20 ish million and without tariffs £8 million ish.
This is why a number of sites built within the last 5 years are now going through significant upgrades. I know one that currently is having 10,000 new panels installed and inverter upgrades because they want to squeeze as much profit out of what they already have without building new ones due to no tariffs.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

interesting figures, thanks.

Surely though, Ref upgrades, if you have say a 15 MW export capacity, upgrading panels to increase production must mean they have to limit export at peak sun? or do they upgrade Grid as well to take the extra?

 

[D14]

interesting figures, thanks.

Surely though, Ref upgrades, if you have say a 15 MW export capacity, upgrading panels to increase production must mean they have to limit export at peak sun? or do they upgrade Grid as well to take the extra?

I don't honestly know whether there is grid upgrades occurring but its a valid point. I will see what I can find out and report back.

 

[Happy]

From memory the 33kv lines cost a forutne to join several million compared to a few hundred k for the smaller lines. You need hundreds of acres to consider it

Ah, right. Think I must have been getting confused with battery storage sites. I’m sure there was something potentially advantageous about having a 33kv sub station with them.

Got a pylon line through farm about to be upgraded from 275kv to 400kv.
Could that potentially be useful?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Ah, right. Think I must have been getting confused with battery storage sites. I’m sure there was something potentially advantageous about having a 33kv sub station with them.

Got a pylon line through farm about to be upgraded from 275kv to 400kv.
Could that potentially be useful?

I think 400 is just too big, the connection logistics on to that is vast.

Do you know of any battery site’s actually built in last 12 months?

 

[Courier]

We have a 11 kV grid connection with about 1 MW of spare capacity bought and paid for - any use ?

 

[Cheeky Drover]

Surely it depends on what the land is earning you - it’s opportunity cost?

What demands could they make or are you referring to during the build out?

Surely they only want to extend the life span to squeeze more out of the deal, or are you saying those built before are no longer earning their owners positive income?

What happens at the end of 30 years or if the company folds?????