Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area FEP first contract to study potential renewable energy projects v v v WRAP funded study Nov 2016 to July 2017 PV on roof tops has low planning issues Low income potential from Feed In Tariffs drove search High daytime on site use of electricity most likely to be viable Cornwall has high renewables installation rate creating grid access issues

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Required actions under funded study v v v Community engagement Assessment of community benefits Chosen technology assessment Site finding & assessment Financial projections Conclusions & future actions

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Community engagement included: v Meetings with Falmouth & Exeter Universities v v v Meetings with potential project partners in Falmouth Docks Presentations to Falmouth & Penryn Town Councils Attendance at Falmouth Business Club Presentation & discussion at Falmouth Café Sci Meetings with Transition Falmouth Appearance & discussion on Source FM radio

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Chosen technology assessment v Our survey found roof top PV is well supported by members & the wider community v PV is eminently suitable for this area as Cornwall experiences a high incidence of solar radiation v Some sectors have higher demand in the summer when the PV supply is high: eg tourism and catering

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Site finding and assessment Location type Hospital v Assessed locations Maximum potential k. W % No. of sites 330 4% 1 1, 400 17% 2 598 7% 4 2, 192 26% 2 Hotels/restaurants 194 2% 2 Farms 460 5% 2 Utilities 297 4% 2 1, 086 13% 2 844 10% 4 1, 023 12% 3 8, 424 100% 24 Supermarkets Public facilities Education Docks Car Parks Industry total

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Chosen technology assessment v Good technical potential for larger commercial roof tops However v we were late to the quest for local PV v many organisations have already considered, installed or rejected PV v many roof tops are leaking- poor build quality or old v larger organisations get cheaper electricity v reducing our room for viability v larger organisations tend to be upcountry owned v dramatically reducing our ability to get through to the right person v larger organisations are more likely to have specialist energy staff v already considered PV

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Smaller commercial potential v Late in study we assessed some smaller projects <50 k. W v can get a better tariff in FITs v therefore not so dependent on host daytime electricity demand v easier to connect to the grid v But – is much slower to get to our 2 MW installed target v lower carbon savings v lower local spend and return v Is possible now

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Financial modelling: parameters v commercial & community funding return needs v using up to date commercial quotes for capital & operating costs v using expected reduction in capital costs, beyond present v using best estimate of PV output for each location allowing for shading, roof restrictions, permitted development restrictions

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Financial modelling: results v v very poor results for most sites unable to provide returns for FEP or local community income too low to use commercial funds larger organisations have very low cost electricity with which it is hard to compete

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Financial: conclusions Therefore we need non commercial funding v crowdfunding v grant aid v long term equity accepting low returns for some years This is approach is suited to community and other well supported locations

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Assessment of potential community benefits v Reduced electricity bills for project partners v Lower electricity bill increases over time v Reduced carbon emissions v Potential funds for community activities

Feasibility study for 2 MW of roof top photovoltaic panels in FEP area Community benefits: carbon savings potential Location Community Centre Local field Local barn Utility site Docks business University building Totals Installed Electricity generated capacity % used on k. W MWh pa site 50 54 18% 50 56 0% 100 112 0% 350 393 100% 499 488 100% Carbon savings kg CO 2 e pa Host Total 3, 981 161, 812 200, 975 22, 115 23, 116 46, 232 161, 812 200, 975 29 32 35% 4, 576 13, 075 1, 078 1, 134 440, 692 467, 325 v potentially 1 MW PV installed and nearly 500 tonnes pa CO 2 e savings if we can work out the financing