Solar

  • Press Releases

    Government’s renewable targets at risk as auction sees no bids for offshore wind

    The government has today unveiled the results of its fifth Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction (AR5), securing 3.7GW of renewable capacity. This is a marked reduction from last year’s secured capacity of 11GW, with government renewables targets potentially at risk. The auction, which saw developers able to bid on a...

  • Press Releases

    Ireland must accelerate renewables expansion to avoid falling short on climate targets

    Analysis conducted by Cornwall Insight Ireland has unveiled that Ireland must significantly increase its renewable’s procurement efforts if it is to meet its ambitious Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23) targets. Cornwall Insight’s All-Island forward curve analysis indicates that an additional capacity of nearly 1GW must be secured at every eligible...

  • Press Releases

    Soaring cost of capital threatens to derail expansion of renewable energy projects

    The rising cost of capital faced by developers of renewable energy projects, such as onshore wind and solar PV, may slow down the number of new projects and cause some already commissioned projects to become financially unviable. Data from Cornwall Insight’s report into capital costs and their impacts on the...

  • Press Releases

    Integrated energy solutions could cut cost of UK wholesale market by 25%

    Modelling from Cornwall Insight has shown that in 2035 widespread use of integrated energy solutions could save the UK's wholesale energy market £13bn per year, representing a 25% cost reduction. The data is included in the independent research paper ‘Integrate to Zero’ prepared by Cornwall Insight and commissioned by the...

  • Press Releases

    Drop in power price predictions up to 2030 but prices to remain above pre-pandemic levels for next decade

    New data from Cornwall Insight has shown a drop in our predictions for power prices up to 2030 as Europe secures alternative energy supplies to compensate for reduced gas flows from Russia. The data included in our fourth 2022 – GB Power Market Outlook to 2030 – has shown price...

  • Press Releases

    Delays to onshore wind investment increase long-term power prices

    Note: Cornwall Insight Ireland release the 'All-Island Power Market Outlook 2023' on a quarterly basis. The increase in long-term power prices refers to the comparison with our Q3 Power Market Outlook released in October 2022. Data from Cornwall Insight Ireland’s fourth - ‘All-Island Power Market Outlook to 2030’ – has...

  • Press Releases

    Co-location of energy could significantly cut the cost of expanding renewables

    A new report from Cornwall Insight and national law firm Weightmans on the co-location of energy assets, entitled “Co-location, co-location, co-location”, has laid out the significant cost savings of using one grid connection for multiple renewable generation or storage assets. The report outlines how co-location could incentivise the development of...

  • Press Releases

    Imposing a windfall tax on renewables generators would be disproportionate to profits

    The share price data of Oil and Gas companies (O&G), large electricity generators (GenCos), and Listed Renewable Funds, analysed by Cornwall Insight, has shown extending the windfall tax to include renewable generators would be disproportionate and unfair given the difference in profit. Cornwall Insight have also warned the impact of...

  • Press Releases

    Victorian Government announcement could help address supply gaps but raises questions for other investors

    The Victorian Government’s announcement on Thursday to resurrect the State Electricity Commission (SEC) may largely address supply gaps identified from recent Cornwall Insight Australia analysis. According to the proposal, the SEC will receive $1b of initial investment to deliver 4.5GW of renewable power, this should help address the supply gap...

  • Press Releases

    Increase in renewables sees winter energy prices drop below historic average by 2027

    Data from Cornwall Insight Ireland’s third 2022 - ‘All-Island Power Market Outlook to 2030’ - has forecast Ireland is set to reach its 80% renewable target by 2030, with the increased energy security helping to stabilise the market and lower long-term energy prices. The report covering both Northern Ireland and...

  • Press Releases

    Offshore wind crucial to stabilising the UK energy market 

    Data from Cornwall Insight included in our third 2022 - GB Power Market Outlook to 2030 - has forecast a drop in prices from late 2023, as gas prices fall from current peaks. Later in the decade, renewables play a key role in the levelling out of prices despite increased...

  • Press Releases

    Cap on the excess revenues of renewable generators risks deterring investment

    In response to the announcement of a consultation on a Cost-Plus-Revenue Limit which will put a cap on all excess revenues renewable generators are receiving. Tom Faulkner, Head of Assets and Infrastructure and Networks at Cornwall Insight said: “The introduction of a cap on the revenues of renewable generators is...

  • Press Releases

    GB sees largest ever renewable energy auction at low prices and low consumer costs

    Today, the government released the results for the fourth round of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, securing a record 11GW’s of renewable capacity across 93 projects, nearly double the 5.8GW awarded in the 2019 Allocation Round 3. The greatest capacity – almost 7GW – has been secured from new...

  • Press Releases

    The UK must provide more certainty to investors as it pushes forward with decarbonisation and energy security

    New research from Cornwall Insight and Transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson has laid out what the UK government must do to achieve an affordable, sustainable and secure energy system and reach its goal of Net Zero by 2050. The report ‘UK and the energy transition: Leading the way?’ analysed...

  • Press Releases

    UK Government must spend £20bn on energy battery storage to meet 2030 renewables targets

    Modelling from Cornwall Insight on Great Britain’s (GB) Power Market out to 2030 has shown that between 2025 and 2030 the government must spend nearly a fifth (18%) of its total energy technologies investment, which includes solar, wind, nuclear and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCUS), on energy storage batteries, if...

  • Press Releases

    Cornwall Insight responds to the publication of the energy strategy

    Gareth Miller, CEO at Cornwall Insight said: “The Energy Security Strategy is a very political document that raises as many questions as it answers. There are clear favourites and as much can be read in to what is in the Strategy as what is not. 15 months on from the...

  • Press Releases

    Solar pipeline has grown 298% since 2020

    Between April 2020 and March 2022 Cornwall Insight’s Renewables Pipeline Tracker report has shown the total capacity of solar PV projects classed as either “application submitted” or “awaiting construction” has increased by 298%, while the equivalent for onshore wind has risen by 17%. This overall growth translates into an average...

  • Press Releases

    Cornwall Insight’s response to the Spring Statement

    Robert Buckley, Head of Relationship Development at Cornwall Insight said: “The Spring Statement came against the backdrop of the tragic events in the Ukraine, which on top of causing untold human suffering, has left European energy markets and subsequently UK households exposed to significantly volatile pricing. “While the government reinforced...

  • Media Mentions

    Smart Energy International| Applications for the government’s CFD auction

    As the applications for the government’s largest-ever Contracts for Difference auction closed, Tim Dixon, Lead Analyst, spoke to Smart Energy International on why developers were considering alternative options. A more inclusive funding round from the government has also come with high levels of competition, likely to push down bids. Newly...

  • Press Releases

    £285mn of government funding for renewables but strong competition means developers are considering alternative options

    Applications for the government’s largest ever Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction have closed with applicants competing for a slice of £285mn a year worth of investment in a wide range of both established and less established renewable technologies. Allocation Round (4) is loosely aiming to secure around 12GW of new...

  • Media Mentions

    Renewable Energy Magazine | 8 GW of wind eligible for CfD AR4

    Cornwall Insight's research on the Contracts for difference (CfD) scheme featured in Renewable Energy Magazine. The research shows that eligible solar pipeline of ~3 GW, up by ~1.8 GW on the same time 12 months ago, with CfD eligible onshore wind capacity at ~5 GW, up by around 1 GW...

  • 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

    48.9GW of new renewables projects currently in the scoping stages

    Renewables projects labelled as “scoping” currently represents 50% or 48.9GW of the total viable pipeline capacity*, according to the latest analysis from Cornwall Insight. Of this 48.9GW "scoping" total, 38.6GW is from offshore wind, 5.0GW from battery projects, 3.0GW from onshore wind and 1.5GW from solar PV. This includes some...

  • Media Mentions

    The Scottish Sun | Scottish renewable pipeline

    Cornwall Insight's renewable pipeline analysis featured in The Scottish Sun today. Our 'Renewables pipeline tracker', the majority of districts across the UK have shown a total increase in the capacity for the accommodation of renewable energy onshore in the last year. Central and Southern Scotland in particular shows a notable...

  • 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...

  • Media Mentions

    The Independent | UK’s energy grid

    Tom Edwards Modelling Consultant at Cornwall Insight was quoted in The Independent discussing the energy grid and how it is holding back the transition to net zero. There is a need for change according to Tom. Network charging arrangements were built in the 1990s when it was thought we were...

  • Media Mentions

    Riviera | CfD pipeline

    Our CfD pipeline predictions featured in Riviera. Our figures show the total 17 GW eligible, almost half (7.9 GW) is offshore wind. The rest is 7.6 GW of ‘Pot 1’ established technologies and 1.4 GW of ‘Pot 2’ less established technologies. Recent announcements by BEIS have confirmed the CfD AR4...

  • 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...