(4) Summary 0-50kWp - UK Solar PV Installation Cost Analysis April'13-March'17

So, you're interested in installing solar PV, but don't know what it's likely to cost?, or possibly already have received quotations and looking for a reliable source to validate whether it's likely to be competitive?, or maybe there's an interest in how prices have moved since your own install?, or even a need to conduct research into the renewable energy sector?

Utilising data tables available from the latest spreadsheets published by BEIS (25/05/2017) it's possible to analyse Solar PV installation costs for all installations registered within the four financial years running from April 2013 through to March 2017.

The above chart details the monthly average (mean) cost per kWp of installed capacity for registered systems below 50kWp (the maximum capacity allowable within the Solar PV Feed-in Tariff scheme) broken down into three capacity related groups (0-4kWp, 4-10kWp & 10-50kWp) to reflect the UK FiT tariff bands. The analysis is based on a data subset sample size of 258903 installations.

The chart clearly shows the fall in costs prior to FiT scheme review changes taking effect on 15/01/2016 and the relative effects on installation costs within the three capacity bands. Although PV panel and other associated technology prices have continued to fall globally, the effect of the changes to the FiT scheme in the UK seems to have had a disproportional impact on the installation of smaller systems below 4kWp and their relative costs. For larger systems rated above 10kWp the scheme changes seem to have had little impact on the downward trend on average costs, which have continued at a steady pace.

It must be noted that the above chart applies to a relatively large range of installation capacities therefore there will be a difference between the cost dilution effect of system elements (inverters, scaffold etc) for systems in the sub 4kWp group and that applicable to larger systems. It is therefore reasonable to deduce that there would be a difference in the accuracy of applying the 'average' costs (cost/kWp x specific installed kWp capacity) within the different capacity bands to a particular system size, doing so for larger system would likely be more accurate than would be the case within the smaller capacity bands.

(This is part of a set of articles - please check for 'Related Posts' in the single post view)

Data Source : BEIS (Solar PV Cost Data) - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/solar-pv-cost-data