Solar Photovoltaic Electricity Generation for Dairy Farms
Solar Photovoltaic Electricity Generation for Dairy Farms
Solar Photovoltaic Electricity Generation for Dairy Farms
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Gelli Aur <strong>Solar</strong> PV A5_13605 Practical sheep breeding 16/07/2012 09:02 Page 7<br />
Other costs<br />
Operation and maintenance costs are usually estimated at between 1% and 2% of the<br />
total installation cost per year. Although PV panels can last 25 years, the lifetime of<br />
the inverters (converts Direct Current to Alternating Current and are vital components<br />
of any PV system) will be shorter, possibly only 10 years.<br />
Financial considerations<br />
You should consider the energy related income that comes from the generation tariff<br />
(FiT); the excess energy that is exported to the national grid (export tariff) and the<br />
energy savings from not having to purchase as much energy from your dedicated<br />
energy supplier.<br />
The basic economics of a 49kW system installed in April 2012 are as follows:<br />
Installation costs £73,500<br />
Likely costs (2012) are £1,500<br />
per kW installed<br />
Average energy generated per year<br />
38,631kWh<br />
9% of theoretical maximum<br />
generation (average <strong>for</strong> the UK)<br />
Average annual income from FiT £8,460 Generated kWh at 21.9p/kWh<br />
Average annual income from power<br />
sold<br />
£898<br />
Assumed 75% export at<br />
3.1p/kWh<br />
Offset electricity value £1,060<br />
Average maintenance cost £1,600<br />
Annual value to the farm £8,818<br />
Assumed 25% own use at<br />
11p/kWh<br />
Cleaning, repair and system<br />
checks<br />
(FIT income) + (export) + (offset)<br />
- (maintenance)<br />
Payback 8.3 years (Install cost)/(annual value)<br />
<strong>Solar</strong> PV electricity generation <strong>for</strong> dairy farms 7
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