The municipality of Arnhem owns several plots of land and is considering to use them for the generation of solar energy. In this framework, the municipality has asked Over Morgen to evaluate the suitability of specific locations for solar projects.
Our solution
Over Morgen has assessed three different locations in Arnhem: a parking area for a large-scale solar carport, a harbour basin for a floating solar farm and a field for a ground-mounted installation.
First, we have evaluated the technical feasibility for the three locations. We have drafted a preliminary design per location and obtained preliminary quotes from suppliers. This has enabled us to formulate the most important points and risks in in technical terms.
Afterwards, we elaborated on the aspects related to the economic feasibility of the solar projects by setting up business cases with the expected investment costs, exploitation costs and turnover. We have presented many alternative versions of the business case, such as a reimbursement through the SDE+ subsidy and a project based on the PostCodeRoos, a special financing option for common energy generation. This enabled the municipality to weigh the different options for further development of these locations. The options and costs for the connection to the grid have been evaluated as well. With all the information above, we have calculated the expected project returns and results.
With the technical and financial aspects at hand, we then defined the general project risks. Whenever the feasibility of a project was considered low, new provisions have been drafted in order to make the project feasible again. Moreover, we organised a masterclass in solar energy specifically designed for the municipality, to enable the organisation to interpret the feasibility study with factual knowledge. Based on the results of this investigation, the municipality is able to decide whether they want to develop solar farms in the selected locations and in what way.