Following the recent public exhibition about the Tarka View development, previously known as the Well Parks development, there is still time for the public to make comments to the developer, Devonshire Homes before the developer submits its detailed planning application during May.

It appears that no PV will be provided on any of the houses unless the buyer requests it - when they will be fitted retrospectively unless the buyer gets in early enough when the house is being built. The reason according to Devonshire Homes being that the homes already meet the reduced energy standard required without PV (using combi gas boilers/ good insulation etc). The developer's position is that no-one would want PV as the payback period is 25 years under the current payment. This is clearly incorrect as the calculations below set out and is more like 12 years payback. They are building 51 affordable homes, but have clearly not made any allowance to reduce energy and hence running costs for these people or anyone else. 

Please make suitable comments to the developer either via their website, or during the planning process.

Savings Calculation

Cost of 4KW pv system installed say £5,500

Estimated Annual electricity usage 3000KWH

Estimated Annual usage of generated PV 30%

Estimated PV production for south facing home 4000KWH

Usage of generated PV say 30% of 4000KWH = 1200KWH

Savings on usage = 1200 X 15p = £180 pa

Generation tariff savings 4000KWH X 4.32p FIT = £173 pa

Export tariff deemed on 50% production = 2000KWH X 4.85p = £97 pa

Total savings = £450

Total payback time = 12 years

Developer was basing PV payback on FIT and Export savings only where payback is around 20 years for a south facing home under current FIT rates. The FIT rates are scheduled to fall every 3 months, so by the time homes are built the savings will be a bit less. For homes built facing away from due south, then production will be less and payback longer.

However, the home occupiers will get large savings on their own usage of their generated power which will only get more as electricity prices increase.