Construction and Interfacing of a Solar Telescope Jon Turner University of Northern Colorado.
Jon Hallé [email protected] · Jon Hallé [email protected] The Big Solar Coop A new model...
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Jon Hallé [email protected] www.sharenergy.coop The Big Solar Coop A new model for post-subsidy community solar
Transcript of Jon Hallé [email protected] · Jon Hallé [email protected] The Big Solar Coop A new model...
Jon Hallé
www.sharenergy.coop
The Big Solar CoopA new model for post-subsidy community solar
Sharenergy: a Shrewsbury-based co-operative helping
people to set up renewable energy Societies across UK
• Finding projects
• Setting up the Society
• Business planning
• Share offers
• Administration
• £25m+ raised
• 7500+ members
• Biomass, wind, hydro, solar
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Business reasons
• Post-subsidy economics
• Post-subsidy risks
Movement reasons
• Climate crisis
• Scale
Why do we need a new model ?
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Our dream site:
School, 100kW 100% use on-site
10p/unit
1000 hrs peak equivalent
Panels last 25 years
Install cost £750/kWp
The solar model, post FiTs
1
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Capital cost: £75k
Income: £10k/yr
Running costs: £2.5k
Depreciation 25 yrs: £3k
Surplus: £4.5k
6% return �
The solar model, post FiTs
1
Leisure centre, 100kW 50% use on-site
10p/unit
1000 hrs peak equivalent
Panels last 25 years
Install cost £750/kWp
But not every site is ideal
2
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Capital cost: £75k
Income: £7.5k
Running costs: £2.5k
Depreciation 25 yrs: £3k
Surplus: £2k
2.5% return �
The solar model, post FiTs
2
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Rooftops
harder
more sites
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Rooftops
1 2
harder
more sites
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Economies of scale
• Capital costs
• Running costs
Shared risk
• Energy users go bust or move
• Increased efficiency
• Roof repairs
=> Large portfolio – 100s or 1000s of sites
Pushing up the bell curve
Solar co-ops are led by committed activists.
To scale up we need to grow the movement,
but also to make the best use of our people.
In the climate crisis we need to know that our
effort is achieving the maximum effect.
People
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Viability
But also:
• Duplication of effort
• Lack of support
• Burnout
Problems with current model
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
One large solar co-op open to all across the UK,
owning 1000s or 10s of 1000s of solar arrays
Big Solar Co-op
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Activists join one or more groups:
• Local groups (focus on sites)
• Activity groups (technology, marketing…)
Mutual support through
• Peer mentoring
• Targeted training
• Sharing and communication tools
Meaningful tasks that don’t take over your life!
Big Solar Co-op
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Site owners
• Brought on board by local groups
• Shared supporting materials, expertise, track
record
• Easier terms
• We can build sites that commercials can’t
Wider public
• Can join as activists or investors
• Rolling share offer at fixed rate
• Easy in and out
Big Solar Co-op
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
Existing groups
• Maintain identity
• Transition to delivering as part of Big Solar
• Compatible with other activities.
New groups
• Can be formed anywhere, any time
Struggling groups
• Route to merger, freeing up activists to do more
solar or something else…
Big Solar Co-op
Private Sector
Individual co-op members &
other co-ops
3 year project with funding from JRCT and EF
• Work with others in community energy
movement to create a viable model
• Get it up and running
• Grow!
• Meeting 16 Nov
• https://bigsolar.coop
Big Solar Coop: Next Steps
