Solar panels on new shed

[MikeNeaverson]

Hi

I'm sure this has been discussed elsewhere so apologies if I am duplicating a thread.

I am in the process of building a 1,400t refrigerated potato cold-store. The ridgeline runs East-West meaning that one aspect of the roof faces due south. The dimensions of this aspect are approximately 28metres long by 13metres deep. I am struggling to find much information online about the economics of installing panels on this roof. I understand FIT's have gone but would installing panels still stack up economically?

We are maincrop growers meaning that our coldstore will really only be running October-end of May. We have little demand for power outside of this time apart from drying/cooling grain with an on-floor system and 50hp Typhoon fan.

Any pointers in the right direction would be much appreciated. How much would such a installation cost? How much would it return or save us? Any ball park figures would be much appreciated before I investigate it properly.

Many thanks.

 

[Fogg]

You'll have room for a 40kW system, I'd have thought, but it'll be as good as useless Oct to Feb, but you may get £1500's worth of electricity from them March to the end of May. Given it's going to cost ~£30k, and you'll only be exporting through summer & autumn I'm inclined to suspect it's not going to be enough of a benefit to justify its cost.

- Though I've just noticed the part where you mention the 50hp motor being run later in the year. It's probably worth getting a second opinion, rather that taking my hunch as a definitive answer.

 

[chickens and wheat]

Will make a reasonable amount for dryinv rape/barley. But wheat harvest is getting tosarx thd enx of the decent solar season

 

[f0ster]

the roof will hold 45kw and produce about 37,000 kwh pa, most of it during the summer time, the power companies pay export, the rate depends on who you go with, you need to look at your elec bill to see how much you are using and what rate you are paying, no point in installing a big system if you are not able to use most of the elec generated your self, you need to size the system according to your elec use so that you are able to use most of it your self, the price depends on who is installing it, if you are able to fit the panels you can cut costs quite a lot, panels are available now at a starting price of about £60 to £70 plus vat for a 280watt, the price goes up from there, inverters usually have a 10 year warranty depending on whose inverter you get,

 

[Proud_Hillbilly]

I can't really say for the UK but here in the States that would probably be a good investment. I hope it turns out to be profitable for you because we need more renewables in the world and not less! I also agree with the point made by @f0ster , usually, inverters will give you peace of mind of 10 years but most of the time they last longer than that so that is good.

I hope you get it going on your shed. Another thing may be worth considering is checking your local municipality if they are willing to give you some incentives to go solar. Any kind of help is welcome and sometimes, at least from my knowledge, the European countries try to encourage and shift to renewables! I wish they did the same where I am from!

 

[MikeNeaverson]

Thanks for replies and a couple of private messages. I don't think it will be viable without a FIT with our usage pattern being weighted against summer running. I will monitor our power usage this coming season and see if it stacks up.

 

[Proud_Hillbilly]

Thanks for replies and a couple of private messages. I don't think it will be viable without a FIT with our usage pattern being weighted against summer running. I will monitor our power usage this coming season and see if it stacks up.

Thats a good idea! You should also ask around the local area to see if anyone else has any kind of solar installation because they can give you the best estimate of how it works considering your local sun availability

 

[Lincsman]

Unless you can use 90% of power generated throughout the year (east/west helps this) it isnt worth bothering.

 

[Exfarmer]

Well, I reckon I would be happy to place 100kw of panels on a site with a by back agreement for 10p provided owner guaranteed to ise 60% of the power and I picked up the export
so I am certain that ifyou can use 50% it will pay as not many people are paying less than 14p

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Unless you can use 90% of power generated throughout the year (east/west helps this) it isnt worth bothering.

My father bought and installed a 12kw water turbine in 1980 for 4k. All the comments we had were 'You can buy a lot of electric for 4k!' I think the price was about 1.5p/unit then so yes you could. Not so much now! If you take a 20 year life for your panels, anyone like to guess what we will be paying in 2040?

 

[Lincsman]

My father bought and installed a 12kw water turbine in 1980 for 4k. All the comments we had were 'You can buy a lot of electric for 4k!' I think the price was about 1.5p/unit then so yes you could. Not so much now! If you take a 20 year life for your panels, anyone like to guess what we will be paying in 2040?

Will panels and inverters last 20 years? even on the later FITs its taking 10 years to pay off.

 

[Exfarmer]

Will panels and inverters last 20 years? even on the later FITs its taking 10 years to pay off.

Panels will last nearly indefinitely, no moving parts. Inverters depends some makes are made up of individual modules which can be cheaply repaired, other cheaper ones are a bit more throw away, but tend to be simpler.
if they are your own panels , and you use some power, many were paid off in 3 years

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Will panels and inverters last 20 years? even on the later FITs its taking 10 years to pay off.

I just pulled that number out of the air. However, the hydro needs input as well. I've just taken advantage of this dry spell to get the alternator overhauled with new bearings, wash out etc and that was 800 odd. I've ordered new s/s screens for the leaves, also 800. 2 years ago I spent 2.5k on new valves, new s/s fittings instead of galvanised, nozzles and hoses, 4 armoured rubber ones. So my electric isn't free. Would I be without it? No fear! I suspect owners of panels wouldn't be without them either.

 

[Proud_Hillbilly]

I believe that solar panels, in most cases, will give good return on investment if enough time passes. But it is also important to think about how these will give good return on investment other than financially.. We will get a healthier world.. That is also worth paying for.

 

[upnortheast]

I believe that solar panels, in most cases, will give good return on investment if enough time passes. But it is also important to think about how these will give good return on investment other than financially.. We will get a healthier world.. That is also worth paying for.

In the UK our beloved government has withdrawn the "Feed in Tariff" This was a gaurented price for every KW produced. set for 20 years
When the FIT was in place panels would pay for themselves in 5 or 6 years. so an attractive inversment. Without FIT the returns are minimal, unless the power can all be used on site. Difficult, given the random appearances of the sun in the UK

 

[Exfarmer]

One of the issues has been, that subsidies have two effects. The draw in legislation to try and keep sharks out of the industry. Second they encourage industry pricing to match the increased economic output of the goods.
it was classic that panels, inverters etc. Ballooned in cost thanks to the FIT subsidy. The intention was that after kickstarting the industry , the subsidy would be reduced over time, so costs would diminish slowly as it was withdrawn.
However slashing the subsidy in one foul swoop meant the industry collapsed overnight, leaving no competition.
However competition is slowly returning, and we are again looking at it being possible to build more generation in solar. It does rely upon the owner being able to use the production, so it should mean a more sustainable industry.
one point is that in reality, in many areas we do not want a big growth in solar as the Netwotprk has a limited ability to cope with the surges it can bring.

 

[f0ster]

the cost of the equipment has certainly came down over the years, when the fits first came out we were paying well over £1 a watt for panels, they are now under 30p a watt, inverters are also a lot cheaper now and the warranty on some is 10 year,

 

[NI farmer]

Any one know who is good installers in Northern Ireland for 60kw system
Using nearly all power

 

[f0ster]

do you have a grid connection, you are allowed to install up to, 16A per phase without permission, anything more and a grid connection is required,

 

[NI farmer]

Already got 12kw
Told nie will up grade for a fee OK?