Solar power station demolition compensation

Should decommissioning cost estimates be based on a crystalline-silicon fixed-tilt PV plant?

High-level estimates of decommissioning costs are needed to improve planning for PV end-of-life and reduce risk in new projects. A decommissioning cost estimate was developed for a conceptual 11 MWAC ground-mounted crystalline-silicon fixed-tilt solar PV plant at the end of its useful life.

What is a PV decommissioning report?

This report can be used to understand the processes and costs associated with decommissioning a utility-scale PV power plant, as well as the salvage value of recovered materials. It also can be used for estimating the net salvage value of a PV plant at the end of its useful life.

How long does a utility-scale solar PV plant last?

The first utility-scale solar PV power sites in the United States were built in the 1980s. However, most existing utility-scale solar PV power sites were installed in the last 15 years, and the lifecycle of a typical PV solar panel is between 20 and 30 years. Therefore, very few utility-scale solar PV plants have been decommissioned.

Why did Sargent & Lundy create a demolition cost estimate?

The demolition cost estimate was developed based on Sargent & Lundy's existing estimate for the construction of a new 11-MWAC solar field installation previously prepared for EPRI.2 Sargent & Lundy leveraged its experience preparing the construction estimate to create the decommissioning estimate for a same size plant.