I am still assuming that the 1076KW relates to the size of the array. It is the least worst explanation for a curiously non technical report on the college's own website but see below.
I am still more than a little confused as to what they are really doing. The college says 700 to 800 panels. Either the panels involved are much bigger than the ones we see on domestic housing or the array size is nowhere near 1076KW. If the 1076 figure is really in KWhs then the probability is that they are aiming to squeeze into the
Colour me cynical. I don't hold out much hope for a technical college or university department that cannot describe accurately what they mean or correctly use scientific and engineering notation. 1076KW seems astonishingly precise with four significant figures too.
Seems likely to me they are 250W or maybe 400W panels at most so somewhere in the range of 200kW to 320kW peak. I think wind loading on these trackable panels will be somewhat entertaining. I think your guess of targetting the
That is one of the factors that initially at least suggested to me that it was the array size rather than the maximum daily output. (269W x
4000). If you start from the other end and say the maximum energy output is 4 x array size you get the same figure from 1000 panels so there could be some justification for their use of 1076. However I can't see a whole number solution that fits 700 to 800 panels so something still doesn't add up.
I can think of two reasons why they wont connect to the "National Grid".
They are in Scotland
Private consumers are never connected to 'The National Grid'. Theya re connected to the distribution network of whoever provides the local infra-structure.
"Based in the newly designed and built Trades Pavilion at our Midlothian Campus, the Faculty of Technology trains students in a range of engineering disciplines and construction and service trades.
"Many of our students are apprentices, honing their knowledge and skills while employed by local businesses. We train a large number of carpentry & joinery and plumbing apprentices, drawn from across the southeast of Scotland, as well as engineering apprentices, employed with local manufacturing and maintenance companies.
"If you come to Jewel & Esk to study engineering, you could specialise in automotive, electrical, measurement & control or mechanical. Whichever discipline you choose, you can be sure you?ll be working and learning in a modern industry environment, giving you the perfect springboard to develop your career in the industry or move on to degree level study at university."
With all due respect to those involved I don't think this is quite like Cambridge. They might not have got the sums right.
Private school & church investments are notorious for being abysmal.
Since this is a school I have a suspicion there may be a Charitable Trust involved here, which may mean they are not treated as commercial and as such a) qualify for higher FiT rate and b) qualify for other tax incentives. That is to say someone is getting 40% back somewhere. Then again, if this is a private school they can usually not do maths or science... :-)
Money can also travel through a private school and out the other side to Barbados, which gets compounded tax back. A favourite of the medical doctors at both hospitals & general practice.
I very much doubt they are tracking units, they have horrible lifetime reliability & maintenance. I recall some solar farms abandoned them in the USA because they could just buy more panels with the savings.
I think you can do a 1kW panel for around =A3280 in seconds, plus =A350 in other sundries to get it waterproof. Of course that will not qualify for a FiT scheme even if done as a contracted company etc.
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