Investors flocking to photovoltaic schemes

Knight Frank's renewables team says that while it is seeing a huge amount of interest in all types of renewable energy at the moment, PV is proving especially popular with landowners and investors. They are particularly attracted by the feed-in tariff rates available, which attract guaranteed payment rates for every unit of electricity generated for the next 25 years.

Oliver Routledge, who has just joined Knight Frank’s Renewables team, says: “Provided that the spending review later this month does not impact on tariff rates, Knight Frank anticipate that many private investors and investment funds will look to invest in feed-in tariff projects, and particularly PV. The proven technology and relatively secure income stream reduce risk when compared with other infrastructure investments. PV schemes are also popular as they do not attract the same level of controversy as wind farms.

“Renewable energy projects and their associated support at the national, European and international level, represent an unrivalled investment opportunity for landowners, both rural and commercial, to diversify income streams from their property. With the UK aiming to achieve 15.4% of electricity supply from renewable sources by 2016 and currently only having achieved circa 6%, there is great potential from both a professional and investment perspective.”

By landgazette.co.uk