solar PV

  • Press Releases

    Cornwall Insight key advisor in landmark Toucan Energy portfolio sale

    Cornwall Insight acted as a key advisor in the successful sale of Toucan Energy's solar PV portfolio. The historic transaction marks the largest operational solar PV portfolio ever to change hands in the GB market. Boasting 53 solar PV assets, with a combined capacity of 513MW, the sale represents a...

  • Press Releases

    Embracing off-peak electricity use and home generation could save billions in energy costs

    New analysis from Cornwall Insight and Smart Energy GB has revealed the substantial cost-saving potential of household flexible electricity initiatives such as time-of-use tariffs, smart meters, solar PV, and batteries. The data reveals national wholesale and system electricity costs could be cut by an annual £4.6bn in 2030 and £14.1...

  • Press Releases

    Up to 1900MW of wind eligible for RESS-2

    Cornwall Insight’s ‘Route to RESS service’ has examined the potential capacity of wind and solar that could enter the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS-2) auction in Ireland, with the analysis showing that approximately 1900MW (1800GWh) of solar and 1600MW (4800GWh) of wind is eligible to bid for the 3500GWh pot....

  • Press Releases

    Incidents of price cannibalisation of renewable assets on the rise

    Research from Cornwall Insight Australia shows that the growth of variable renewable energy (VRE) generation significantly impacts their captured price. In fact, in FY18, 98% of the grid-scale solar generation volumes captured prices above $50/MWh. However, this has reduced to 12% in FY21. On top of this, wind and solar...

  • Press Releases

    Is the market putting the brakes on distributed solar exports?

    Research from Cornwall Insight Australia shows market conditions putting the brakes on distributed solar exports. In fact, there are substantial savings if consumers switch retailers without installing solar compared to opting to install solar panels with one of the big three retailers. The below graph compares the choice between installing...

  • Press Releases

    Scotland sees the largest increase in renewable pipeline capacity

    According to Cornwall Insight's 'Renewables pipeline tracker', most regions across Great Britain (GB) showed a net increase in total pipeline capacity between April 2020 and March 2021. Displayed by distribution network operator (DNO) region for visualisation purposes and accounting for projects due to connect to the transmission network, Central and...

  • Press Releases

    Up to 17GW of renewables eligible for CfD AR4

    Cornwall Insight’s Renewable Pipeline Tracker service has examined the potential capacity that could enter the Contract for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round (AR) 4, with the analysis showing there is currently 17GW* of technologies likely to be eligible to bid. This analysis is based on Cornwall Insight’s unique tiering system in...

  • Press Releases

    Ireland will need to more than double its renewable capacity over the next 25 years to meet 2050 targets

    Findings from Cornwall Insight's 'All-Island forward curve' – a comprehensive market and asset-level power price modelling service – shows that Ireland will need to more than double its renewable capacity over the next 25 years if it is to meet net zero emissions by 2050. The below table shows how...

  • Press Releases

    Rooftop solar growth driving unprecedented changes to demand shape

    Between 12 - 1 PM, on Sunday, October 11, 2020, solar power provided 100% of South Australia’s energy demand – a first in Australia and for any major jurisdiction globally. Cornwall Insight Australia has examined what impact this phenomenal growth in rooftop solar is having in the wholesale market and...

  • Press Releases

    Solar power responsible for paying 20% of total FCAS regulation costs

    Latest research from Cornwall Insight Australia shows that solar farms are responsible for paying somewhere between 10%-20% of total regulation FCAS costs in any given month (see Figure 1). This is disproportionate to solar’s energy generation in the NEM, which in FY20, was only ~3%. In contrast, wind is far...

  • Press Releases

    Total capacity of small-scale PV and battery storage predicted to reach 32GW by 2030

    Cornwall Insight Australia’s projections show that based on the current trajectory of small-scale PV systems and associated battery storage assets, the National Electricity Market (NEM) is already on the path to a very high Distributed Energy Resources (DER) scenario seen in Energy Networks Australia’s Open Energy Network Project position paper...

  • Press Releases

    Number of Power Purchase Agreements for renewable technologies increasing

    Research from Cornwall Insight’s ‘PPA market share report’ suggests that the number of flexible and renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) being signed is on an upward trajectory, highlighted in the below graph. Flexible assets PPA market Since August 2019 flexible assets have seen 530.6MW of optimisation agreements announced. 197.6MW of...

  • Press Releases

    Renewable generator revenues fall due to COVID-19 lockdown

    Research from Cornwall Insight’s Green Power Forecast reveals there has been a sharp decline in generator revenues. Solar and wind technologies have been particularly impacted by low demand levels due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Solar PV captured prices were, on average, 8.4% and 14.9% below baseload levels in March and...

  • Press Releases

    Renewable pipeline shows evidence of developer appetite

    Research from Cornwall Insight’s Renewables Pipeline Tracker reveals there is ample evidence of developer appetite for future renewables investments in the UK. The research highlights the total capacity of tracked sites in the pipeline stands at 38.7GW across 845 locations. The majority of projects are classed as ‘awaiting construction’, accounting...

  • Press Releases

    Scale of future onshore wind and solar PV deployment

    Cornwall Insight looks further into the Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD) that was issued last week. The REPD tracks the progress of renewable projects through the planning system and is used as a good indicator of future renewable deployment. The chart below shows the capacity of onshore wind and solar...

  • Press Releases

    GB can meet carbon budgets without new nuclear plants, but urgent policy direction is needed

    Findings from Cornwall Insight’s Benchmark Power Curve ­– a comprehensive market and asset-level power price modelling service – shows that meeting GB’s fourth and fifth carbon budgets without commissioning new nuclear capacity is a real possibility. Not only this, but the forecasts predict that meeting these targets can be achieved...