1. to study potential renewable energy projects
FEP first contract
to study potential renewable energy projects
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

2. Required actions under funded study
Community engagement
Assessment of community benefits
Chosen technology assessment
Site finding & assessment
Financial projections
Conclusions & future actions

3. Community engagement included:-
Meetings with Falmouth & Exeter Universities
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

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

5. Site finding and assessment
Assessed
locations
Location type
Maximum potential
kW %
No. of sites
Hospital
330 4% 1
Supermarkets
1,400
17% 2
Public facilities
598 7% 4
Education
2,192
26%
Hotels/restaurants
194 2%
Farms
460 5%
Utilities
297
Docks
1,086
13%
Car Parks
844
10%
Industry
1,023
12% 3
total
8,424
100% 24

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

7. Smaller commercial potential
Late in study we assessed some smaller projects <50kW
can get a better tariff in FITs
therefore not so dependent on host daytime electricity demand
easier to connect to the grid
But – is much slower to get to our 2MW installed target
lower carbon savings
lower local spend and return
Is possible now

8. Financial modelling: parameters
commercial & community funding return needs
using up to date commercial quotes for capital & operating costs
using expected reduction in capital costs, beyond present
using best estimate of PV output for each location allowing for shading, roof restrictions, permitted development restrictions

9. Financial modelling: results
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

10. Financial: conclusions
Therefore we need non commercial funding
crowdfunding
grant aid
long term equity accepting low returns for some years
This is approach is suited to community and other
well supported locations

11. Assessment of potential community benefits
Reduced electricity bills for project partners
Lower electricity bill increases over time
Reduced carbon emissions
Potential funds for community activities

12. Electricity generated
Community benefits: carbon savings potential
Location
Installed capacity
Electricity generated
Carbon savings
kg CO2e pa kW
MWh pa
% used on site
Host
Total
Community Centre 50 54
18%
3,981
22,115
Local field 56 0%
23,116
Local barn
100
112
46,232
Utility site
350
393
100%
161,812
Docks business
499
488
200,975
University building 29 32
35%
4,576
13,075
Totals
1,078
1,134
440,692
467,325
potentially 1 MW PV installed and nearly 500 tonnes pa CO2e savings if we can work out the financing