Solar Farming

3 posts
Wed, 09/16/2015 - 16:24 #1

Member for

8 years 7 months
Andrew Brown
Last seen: 09/17/2015 - 14:24
Joined: 09/16/2015 - 16:04

Solar Farming

Hi,

 

I am trying to grow a network of small solar farms.  What I am trying to do is install small solar systems (around 10kw - 40 panels) on farm sheds around NSW that are connected to the power grid.  The power gereated would be sold into the grid, however, some of the power could be used by the farmer at half their grid price.

 

The benefit to the farmer is a quarterly fee (for the use of the shed roof) and cheap power.  The fee is only small but the energy is cheap which adds to the benefit. There's also no cost and it helps the environment.

 

Do you think this is something that small farmers would be interested in?

 

Andrew

 

 

 

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Wed, 09/16/2015 - 19:43 #2
Kaz
Last seen: 07/06/2023 - 21:03
Joined: 04/05/2015 - 09:51
The current buy in rate for solar energy is only 8c per kwh, how will this be beneficial for you?
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Wed, 09/16/2015 - 22:22 #3
Andrew Brown
Last seen: 09/17/2015 - 14:24
Joined: 09/16/2015 - 16:04

Hi Kaz,

 

Solar is a long lasting asset.  If I buy the right equipment it can last 30+ years.  While it will take a while to recover the investment, there will will still be enough long term return to make it viable.  It is also possible to keep installation costs down thereby improving the economics.

 

The farmer would likely be paying around 25c to 30c per kwh for grid power.  A 50% discount on this would be 12.5c to 15c.  If the farmer ends up using 20% of the power generated this will also help improve the return.

 

I am also confident that longer term feed in tariff rates will improve and should recover to the mid teens in time.  After all climate change will only get worse, not better (2015 is on track to be the hottest year in recorded history globally, by a long way, beating the previous record set in 2014).  Scientists are also tipping 2016 may be hotter still given the strength of the current El Nino.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Andrew

 

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