Large scale solar for. Ground-mounted and rooftop solar on and off grid. businesses

Transcription

1 Large scale solar for Ground-mounted and rooftop solar on and off grid businesses

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3 In areas where grid power is expensive, intermittent or non-existent, solar power can cut both the cost of electricity and the dependence on standby generators. Install a solar power system at your business, whether it s a factory, office or farm, and use the free electricity it produces. Solar electricity is cheaper than today s utility power and the price of the power is fixed for at least 25 years. So whether you have a flower farm in Naivasha, a hotel in Malindi, a shopping mall in Nairobi or a factory on the Mombasa Road, solar power is a fantastic way of cutting your business s electricity bills and providing a stable, reliable power supply. Just imagine what that could do for your bottom line.

4 Why choose solar? There are so many reasons. These are a few of the most important: Reduced costs As the cost of grid power continues to rise, the sun keeps shining for free. Advances in solar technology means that solar electricity is now cheaper than grid electricity in many parts of Africa especially where grid electricity comes from expensive emergency electricity sources such as diesel generators. For many countries the cost of diesel is typically US $1-1.5 per litre, and fuel costs for diesel-generated electricity can be upwards from US $0.30 per kwh*. The lifetime cost of solar electricity (known as the levelised cost of energy (LCOE) is $ per kwh. So where diesel is used to generate grid or standby electricity, electricity from solar power is cheaper. Unlimited and reliable The sun shines every day without fail, so the energy it produces is stable and unlimited; a secure source of power for the future. The solar panels produce energy from daylight, so they still work on overcast days. Clean electricity Unlike fossil fuels which create harmful air pollution and global warming, solar energy is clean and renewable. Businesses that invest in solar show a commitment to environmental performance attractive to customers. Predictable costs Once the solar system has been installed, the price of the electricity it generates is fixed for at least 25 years, so you can generate your own free power without worrying about soaring bills in the future. Easy and flexible Solar is straightforward, easy to install and very low-maintenance. The power from the panels is warrantied for 25 years with an expected lifetime for many years beyond this. Solar can be installed almost anywhere; all you need to get started is a building or some land, then the system can be tailored to the space available and your power demands. *Source:

5 About solar power Solar electricity is generated using a free and abundant energy source the sun. In a single hour, the sun transmits more energy to the earth s surface than the world uses in a year. This clean, renewable energy can be converted into free electricity to power your business. What are solar PV panels? Placed on the roof or on the ground, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels capture the sunlight and convert it into electrical energy, measured in kilowatt hours (kwh) otherwise known as units of electricity. When you group numerous solar panels together to form a complete solar power system, you can use the free solar electricity to power your business, being less reliant on expensive grid or diesel electricity. The size of a solar power system is measured in kilowatt peak (kwp). This is the power the solar would produce under a set of standard test conditions*. Africa is the ideal location for solar electricity; being on the equator where the sun is high in the sky all day provides great conditions for getting the most out of a solar system. How do solar panels work? 1. The solar panels are frames made up of solar (PV) cells (which are layers of silicon). The sun s radiation hits these cells and is converted to direct current (DC) power. 2. This DC power travels to an electrical inverter, which converts DC power into alternating current (AC) power. 3. A distribution board and smart controls manage the operation of the solar power with the utility grid or generator power. 4. The AC electricity produced is just like the power supplied by your utility company or by standby generators. It can be used to power fans, pumps, lights, computers all the things your business needs to operate. 5. Generator power can continue to be used when necessary. 6. Excess energy can be exported to the grid *Standard Test Conditions for solar panels is 1000W/m 2 irradiance, AM 1.5 spectrum, 25ºC cell temperature.

6 Solar applications For the roof or the ground, Solarcentury has designed a variety of projects... Simon Webb

7 Guy Lawrence, East African Solar 1. Blackfriars railway bridge, London UK 2. Hanover Square offices, London UK 3. Ground-mount, Rustenburg RSA 4. Eden venue and greenhouse, UK 5. CIS offices, Manchester UK 6. Vauxhall station, London UK 7. Ground-mount, Rustenburg RSA 8. Ground-mount, Polignano IT 9. Car ports, Johannesburg RSA 10. Rookery industrial park, UK 11. Flower farm, Timau Kenya

8 About Solarcentury No substitute for experience We are one of the world s most trusted, respected and longstanding solar companies. With our headquarters in London, we have offices across Europe, Africa and Latin America. In fact, being founded in 1998, we have been around since the early days of the solar industry and have been part of the evolution that has made solar the attractive investment it is today. We ve put solar on more types of sites than any other company in the industry, and have won multiple awards for product innovation. Our people s knowledge is unmatched. Our international project team includes some of Europe s most experienced solar engineers, investment experts and legal specialists, and our engineers have designed and delivered grid-connected and isolated grid services all over the world, from the UK to Africa to the South Pacific Islands. So when you choose Solarcentury, you know you re in very good hands. What s more, we re in it for the long-haul. This isn t just our business, it s our mission. Our commitment to making solar accessible is deeprooted and long-term, and our solidly established business is growing steadily worldwide.

9 Pictures courtesy of Network Rail Our work Blackfriars, London UK Size 1.1 MWp Annual generation* 900,000 kwh CO 2 savings per year 513,000 kg Estimations only, correct at time of installation The new Blackfriars station spanning the River Thames is the world s largest solar bridge, with Solarcentury installing a total of 4,400 solar panels. The solar panels will generate an estimated 900,000 kwh of electricity every year, providing 50% of the station s energy and reducing CO 2 emissions by an estimated 513,000 kg per year. *All figures are estimates.

10 Our work Over 100 MW developed, across UK Size 120 MWp Annual generation* 114,000,000 kwh CO 2 savings per year 65,000 tonnes Within the space of 18 months, Solarcentury has developed 120 MWp worth of ground-mounted solar power systems in the UK, with a 100% success rate in planning. With all our sites, careful consideration is given to selecting sites which minimise the impact on local residents and maximise the benefit for biodiversity. Frans van den Heuvel, CEO at Solarcentury commented: Reaching the 100 MW mark in such a short space of time is a real testament to the development team we have here at Solarcentury. Our approach to site selection and planning means we can provide sites that are of a huge benefit to the community, the environment and investors. Lexham 7.9 MWp Fountaine 11.5MWp Hardingham 14.8 MWp Eynsham 13.4 MWp Hill Farm 15.2 MWp Chediston 12.3 MWp Stratton Hall 11.7 MWp Dillington 7 MWp Isle of Sheppy 10.6 MWp Saxley 5.9 MWp Chalcroft 6.3 MWp *All figures are estimates. Horam 2.6 MWp

11 Developer, owner and operator - Lightsource Renewable Energy Our work Bentley Motors manufacturing plant, Crewe UK Size 5 MWp Annual generation* 4,504,680 kwh CO 2 savings per year 25,58,658 kg Building a 5 MW solar system across 120 roofs, on multiple buildings you would think would be hard enough, but when you add in a short deadline and arctic weather, this really was a major challenge. Did we mention it is also a fully functioning car manufacturing plant with 4,500 staff and the need for 24 hour logistical access from the owner? The team installed over 20,000 solar panels at rates of up to 700 a day. This involved a mounting system that would securely fix the modules to the roof without penetrating it and risking leaks onto the factory floor below. All the work was carried out on time despite the snow and freezing conditions that the UK experienced in When you look back at what has been achieved it really is something quite special, it is great to know that we have made a significant contribution to the client s goals. The site has been fully tested and Solarcentury will continue to provide a full monitoring and maintenance service across the entire site to ensure that the projected yields are achieved. Paul Sutton, Project Manager *All figures are estimates.

12 Our work Waterfall Mall, Rustenburg RSA Size 574 kwp Annual generation* MWh CO 2 savings per year tonnes Property Developer GrowthPoint, under the Eskom IDM program, installed a large grid tied PV array, on the roof of a popular retail mall in Rustenburg, Waterfall Mall. The system is installed parallel to the roof with the energy from the array fed directly into the malls electrical system, saving the client on his electrical bills. This project was developed by Solarcentury s joint venture partner in South Africa - Momentous Energy. *All figures are estimates.

13 Our work Sulfurcell, Berlin Germany Size 310 kwp (equivalent to 1 MWp in crysalline terms) Annual generation* 287,005 kwh CO 2 savings per year 163,019 kg Solarcentury was chosen by German solar module manufacturer Sulfurcell to install a solar electricity system on top of a new Sulfurcell factory. From signing the EPC contract to connecting the system to the grid, we had 10 weeks making this a substantial logistical achievement. Solarcentury s innovative engineering team developed a new mounting system for this project to allow the system to be installed on the lightweight membrane roof. *All figures are estimates.

14 Getting started As a highly experienced developer and EPC contractor of both roof and ground-mounted PV systems, we can provide a complete turnkey service, or design and supply equipment for an installer to build. Finance options There are three broad ways to finance a solar power system. Outright purchase Ultimately, financing the system yourself will be the cheapest. However this requires an upfront outlay that not everybody can afford, and an operational risk that not everyone may be willing to take. On the operational (new) risk side, Solarcentury can provide asset managers between you the owner, typically in another line of business, and us the operator, who will work on your behalf. 3rd party project finance We bring together property owners and investors, both equity and debt, to deliver quality solar power systems to businesses. If you re looking for a fully financed option, we re experienced in choosing a suitable investor or finance provider, working through due diligence and contractual documentation, leading to financial close and a successful outcome. With our head office in London, the world s financial capital, we have established relationships with solar investors who are interested in seeking higher returns in Africa and/or to diversify their international portfolio. Lease This is offered by Solarcentury. A lessor takes on the ownership and operational responsibility of the solar power system on behalf of the lessee, which in practice means that there is no up-front cost for the lessee. The lessee pays the lessor for both the electricity produced and the debt servicing related to the lease throughout a defined period, at the end of which the lessee can purchase (or be given) the solar power system from the lessor. Overall the lease is structured in such a way that the lease cost is less than what the existing provider of power invoices the lessee at kwh level. The lessee can also benefit from tax reliefs, if allowed by the local inland revenue and agreed with the lessor. In such a scheme the leverage is so high that it represents a solution cheaper than a pure 3rd party project finance. In this example, we sized the solar system to be as large as possible but limited the size so that the business owner would be able to make use of all the electricity produced. The result is a 1MWp system that will produce 1.2 million units of electricity per annum. The first graph shows the amount the business will save in electricity during the first 10 years of the lease. Savings on electricity over the first 10 years $660,000 $495,000 $330,000 $165,000 $ Year And the second chart shows how much the business will save over 25 years. In this scenario, for no upfront cost, the business will save over $10m. $20,000,000 $15,000,000 $6,000,000 $5,000,000 $0 Cumulative balance, over 25 years Year

15 Our service Our end-to-end service runs from design and engineering right through to installation and monitoring. Whether or not you have an existing power source, our experienced team will provide you with a solar system that meets your needs and works with your local environment either stand-alone or paired with another form of power generation. This is how the process might work for you: Analysis of your power demands and costs Surveying of your land and buildings to identify installation opportunities Surveying your electrical infrastructure Developing an optimised design Simulation of the system financial and technical performance Help in identifying possible sources of finance Installation Ongoing operation and maintenance Performance evaluation and optimisation Our guarantee We offer a full range of performance-guaranteed solar technologies, thanks to our many world-class suppliers. So you can count on a safe and smooth-running construction, delivered on time and on budget. We are able to offer attractive warranties covering the construction and performance of the system. And given the length of time we ve been around our warranty counts for something. One of our beliefs is to be there at every step of the way. So once the Installation is complete, we offer an operation and maintenance programme for an agreed period. This includes remote performance monitoring - monthly, semi-annual and annual preventative and corrective maintenance, regular reporting, and component warranty management. Solarcentury s experienced team uses state of the art design technology and monitoring software

16 Find out more Call +254 (0) Visit Solarcentury is in business for a purpose to make a big difference in the fight against climate change through widespread adoption of solar power. We are a big believer in helping solar change our world for the better, and we contribute 5% of our net profits every year to our sister charity SolarAid, which aims to eradicate kerosene lamps from Africa by Solarcentury East Africa Ltd, Marula Manor, Marula Lane, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya PO Box 15097, 00509, Nairobi, Kenya Registered in Kenya no. CPR/2013/ London Helmond Milan Johannesburg Nairobi SCKE