Are large scale PV farms still viable in the UK?

[Mackers]

Are large scale PV solar farms still viable in the UK? To meet our 2020 goals and to reduce our carbon footprint generally, are these still viable? The payments have been cut, but do the developers of these still get paid for generation and export on top of that? 

The income is severely reduced compared to previously but this must still be financially viable? I'm more interested in the long term benefits of reduced carbon emissions etc but to interest anyone in it, it needs to be financially viable. What are your thoughts?

Edited May 25, 2016 by Alphonsox
Typo in title

[SteamyTea]

Start reading:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-market-reform-contracts-for-difference

 

I think there are several different ways that a PV generation company can sell their produce, just a case of someone sitting down and working out the best contract to be on.  If you take out the CO₂ element, they are just like ordinary, small scale, producers and can enter the auctions when the price is right.  So they may elect to just sell power for the morning and evening peaks in the summer and give power away the rest of the time.  This, if there is enough solar being generated, will affect the market price.  That is a risky game to play though as they may have to 'buy in' power when they cannot supply, and that will be very expensive as it is calling on the 'hot spinning reserves'

[Mackers]

Thanks, I'll get a read of it later and come back with comments.

[tonyshouse]

It is but compared to the last few years very different, there are companies and people clearing 10% returns and the economics are now a lot more sensible with low single figure returns available. 

Large south facing roofs roofs are viable too even with the reduced FiTs 

In five years time we will reach grid parity for solar

[Declan52]

Must be still money in it as they are doing one up at aldergrove for the airport. This one will just serve the airport and not be connected to the grid. 

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2452823/belfast-international-airport-readies-private-wire-solar-farm-for-take-off

Edited May 25, 2016 by Declan52

[Ferdinand]

Presumably there is still money in sheep-under-solar as a second crop.

Ferdinand