Can I sell electricity from my solar farm to my neighbours?

william hamilton · Apr 7, 2024

Hi all,

I own a small farm based in northern Ireland and have been exploring some methods of farm diversification. One method which I have recently been considering is converting some land (approx 10 acres) into a solar farm. I have multiple medium factories and industrial operations nearby which I believe may use quite a lot of electricity and i was wondering if it is possible for me to sell to them through a private wire?

Just wondering if anyone is currently doing this, and what I will have to consider when pursuing this?

Thanks

Nobodybusiness · Apr 7, 2024

william hamilton said:
Hi all,

I own a small farm based in northern Ireland and have been exploring some methods of farm diversification. One method which I have recently been considering is converting some land (approx 10 acres) into a solar farm. I have multiple medium factories and industrial operations nearby which I believe may use quite a lot of electricity and i was wondering if it is possible for me to sell to them through a private wire?

Just wondering if anyone is currently doing this, and what I will have to consider when pursuing this?

Thanks

Sure you can if you can..

I have no doubt you can generate electricity and sell it to your neighbors.

However the rules and Regs of your country might have something to say about it.

Hopefully someone in Ireland will give you some help..

LydMekk · Apr 7, 2024

Your climate is something like England so I figure producing much solar will be an uphill battle, yes?
Especially companies would like their power to be up and running every day.
As mentioned above ^^ ask a local sparkie for rules and regs in your local market for resellers.

Rain@ · Apr 7, 2024

The purchased inverter should require on-grid connection certification, etc. (comply with local on-grid connection regulations)

wpns · Apr 8, 2024

william hamilton said:
Hi all,

I own a small farm based in northern Ireland and have been exploring some methods of farm diversification. One method which I have recently been considering is converting some land (approx 10 acres) into a solar farm. I have multiple medium factories and industrial operations nearby which I believe may use quite a lot of electricity and i was wondering if it is possible for me to sell to them through a private wire?

Just wondering if anyone is currently doing this, and what I will have to consider when pursuing this?

Thanks

There are already wires running from your farm to their factories.

If you can grid-tie you can sell to the power company and they’ll take care of selling to your neighbors. The devil is in the details of what they’ll pay you.

robby · Apr 8, 2024

wpns said:
There are already wires running from your farm to their factories.

If you can grid-tie you can sell to the power company and they’ll take care of selling to your neighbors. The devil is in the details of what they’ll pay you.

I would think that ROI for a large system financed on the typical measly money the power companies pay will take several decades. That is assuming they don’t limit the sell back to 10Kwh daily.

william hamilton · Apr 8, 2024

robby said:
I would think that ROI for a large system financed on the typical measly money the power companies pay will take several decades. That is assuming they don’t limit the sell back to 10Kwh daily.

Yes this is the issue, anything which bumps my price above the wholesale price is much more likely to make the project viable and is why I want to exploit being so close to some industrial sites

SeaGal · Apr 8, 2024

william hamilton said:
what I will have to consider when pursuing this?

AFAIAA, supplying electricity is a licensable activity which comes under the Electricity Act 1989 - see

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2020/02/selling_energy_to_consumers_what_are_your_options_feb_2020_final_v0.23.pdf

Crowz · Apr 8, 2024

If you did get away with supplying those businesses and something goes wrong and you damage their equipment

or they just decide that they think you damaged their equipment

or they decide suing you makes taking your land so they can expand their business size by claiming you damaged their equipment

your screwed....

I don't think this will end well considering human nature.

Can I sell electricity from my solar farm to my neighbours?

william hamilton

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Nobodybusiness

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Rain@

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wpns

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william hamilton

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SeaGal

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Crowz

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