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Renewable Energy: Solar PV - Help with MSc Thesis please……..

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    I am a mature student - 46 years old - and I am currently studying for MSc Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies http://www.uel.ac.uk/programmes/cite/postgraduate/summary/environmental.htm run through the Centre for Alternative Technology.

    I have nearly concluded discussions with my tutor RE: Thesis and agreed that it will be related to incentives associated with micro-generation and more specifically the Feed in Tariff (FiT) introduced in April 2010. It was also agreed in order to keep the dissertation manageable I should focus in on one of the technologies and therefore photovoltaic (PV) was chosen.

    The main hypothesis/suggestion is related to the amount of return on investment (ROI) small investors like me are gaining in the first year of installation – for example July 16th 2010 to July 15th 2011 = 3,511 kWh and an approximate return of £1,750/£15,500 = 11.3% (reduction required for whole life costs such as replacing the inverter ‘say’ every 10 years). http://energy1.moonfruit.com/

    To ensure this study is factual and robust I am hoping to find likeminded people to supply me with their 12-month ROI (confidentially) to ensure I can build up an accurate primary data sample based on ‘actual’ generation details and installation cost and not just assumed cost of installation with forecast generation.

    If you have a PV installation that is 12-months old or will be by the 31st March 2012 I would really appreciate your help with this study.

    Information required:-
    1. Size of system and installation cost
    2. 12-months generation please

    Thanks in advance.
    Regards,
    Ron Durrans
    rondurrans@aol.com
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeOct 6th 2011
     
    Can't help with a PV system but am interested in what you are doing (as I like to play Devil's Advocate).
    Are you taking an Economic or Accountancy viewpoint?
  3.  
    I want to test the hypothesis that ‘investors in PV are being over rewarded’ due to the FiT rates being set too high – the idea was 8% ROI, however there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that this is being exceeded – that said I could be way off the mark!
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      CommentAuthorJSHarris
    • CommentTimeOct 6th 2011
     
    I think you're bang on the money! I'd guess that the government thinks the same, too, as I foresee a reduction in the FIT next year.

    The fairly rapid growth in companies prepared to "rent" roof space, in return for the FIT payment is another good indicator that the return is high.
  5.  
    The reduction next April was always on the cards – the million dollar question is by how much?
    • CommentAuthorjamesingram
    • CommentTimeOct 6th 2011 edited
     
    Rodurran , not to devalue your future research, it's no secret that hypothesis is very true .
    4kW jobs are currently around £10-13,000 inc vat now ( ebay has people offering 4kW below £9K)
    giving say a return of £1,600 pa for a SE facing system.
    larger installs I believe are below £2,500/kWp

    One question , was the intended return, set by the government, designed at 8% to including return of captial ( like a savings account ) or just simple straight return.
    If the return level was after recovery of installation costs then it's still around 8%
    ( £12,500 cost / £1,600 FIT+export+ electric saving per year = 13% simple return )
    • CommentAuthorjamesingram
    • CommentTimeOct 6th 2011 edited
     
    A poster on navitron forum , who posts here and seems on the ball and clearly has a far greater knowledge than me , estimated no more than 35p as the new level for April
    http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,15115.0.html
    you've probably all ready clocked it.
    I'll have a years data of a system in feb. next year , if it's still of use to you
    out of interest they've already excede the SAP and PVGIS estimate for annual output with 4 months of winter generation to go.
    • CommentAuthorrondurrans
    • CommentTimeOct 6th 2011 edited
     
    James thanks for the posts – I think you make some relevant points and I will consider them further soon. Your offer of data next year would be very useful.

    Regards,
    Ron
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      CommentAuthorted
    • CommentTimeOct 6th 2011
     
    There are also rather more rumours than seem safe to ignore that domestic scale FiT rates may be changed before next April.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeOct 6th 2011
     
    That is worrying coming from you Ted. Are they likely to 'go Spanish' on us do you think?
    • CommentAuthorrondurrans
    • CommentTimeOct 14th 2011
     

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