Barrier to large renewable projects lifted

Friday 01 March 2024

Large scale renewable installations will not have to pay a standby charge from April.

Projects that are equivalent to around 75 solar panels will see the charge set to zero as part of States plans to help accelerate the growth of the sector.

The States’ Trading Supervisory Board has agreed a tariff application from Guernsey Electricity that implements a direction made by the Assembly.

“The change will affect a very small number of current customers, given the standby charge only applies where the installed power-generation capacity is above 25kW,” an STSB spokesperson said. 

For those using non-renewable sources, the monthly charge of £3.07 per kW per month will still apply.

In September 2023, the States agreed a new Electricity Strategy proposed by Environment & Infrastructure.

It said: “There is already a market in Guernsey for the provision of small-scale renewable generation and the expansion of this market should be facilitated by GEL.

“To help deliver this, the stand-by charge, in its current form, should be revised for renewable energy installations. The current standby charge, at the time of writing, limits installations to below 25kW installed before applying a £3.07 charge per kW per month. Although this is unlikely to impact upon most domestic applications, for larger premises this may act as a blocker. 

“While this could be undertaken through a more general review of tariffs, given the committee’s view that solar should be developed as quickly as possible, the removal of this barrier for renewable energy installations should be prioritised."