Do you wonder: what are renewable energy costs in real terms?
We can show you.
We look after two sites:
- Both are offgrid.
- Both have a hydro scheme and a diesel generator.
- 18 months ago one was upgraded from a basic, manually operated either/or operation (i.e. when water ran out, a human had to change over a big switch and start a generator) to a modern offgrid system with automated hydro, battery storage and backup generator.
- The other was designed to be, but the work hasn’t gone ahead yet.
A recent review of annual servicing figures identified that the modernised system had 24 hours of generator run time. The other had 4,600 hours…
The difference is about 22,800 litres of diesel.
Whilst current prices of red diesel have jumped to about £1.15 per litre, even at an average price of £0.90 a litre the difference in operating cost (including the interim servicing costs and costs of getting diesel to this site) would probably have been 20% of the upgrade cost.
That’s a rough assessment of cost and so it’s not exact. And of course it is always easier in hindsight. But armed with this data the Client has been able to make a commercial decision and is looking to progress with the modernisation of the second site.
We can help to model scenarios of renewable energy costs to help our Clients understand in advance and not have to wait for the hindsight bit. Give us a call or send us your questions online to talk about how.