@transparent I wonder, how many heads might you be able to knock together at once?😉 Toodles.

The generator (Derril Water Solar Farm) should have a contract with the grid operator for transmission. If the grid operator is unable to fulfil their contractual obligations around transmission for whatever reason, then the generator will be entitled to compensation for their financial losses, commonly known as constraints or curtailment payments as the grid operator is in breech of contract.

Posted by: @old_scientist

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The generator (Derril Water Solar Farm) should have a contract with the grid operator for transmission. If the grid operator is unable to fulfil their contractual obligations around transmission for whatever reason, then the generator will be entitled to compensation for their financial losses, commonly known as constraints or curtailment payments as the grid operator is in breech of contract.

 

Unfortunately it isn't yet live on the CfD contract by the look of things, this is  why it hasn't been getting CfD payments yet  I assume and does not hence get curtailment payments in general. Until then everything is at risk anyway which should have been made much clearer with all these sort of investments. They should really only have been advertised to FCA Sophisticated Investors, they really aren't suitable for standard retail investors. 

A generator doesn't immediately go under a CfD contract after the first time it exports, in fact in the past some wind turbines held off as they could get more money in the open market for their electricity.... 

The expected start date was 1st July 2026 with a long stop July 2027. 

https://register.lowcarboncontracts.uk/AR6-DWS-700/

I assume there are no contractual obligations before this which is why they have been told that they have no insurance cover or compensation. 

You would also need to check if there were any get out clauses in the CfD contract when it actually kicks in. 

Having got caught out myself with green investments, I would strongly urge people not to get involved unless they were OK loosing all their investment. I got lucky, once with compensation instructed by the FOS, the other time with compensation via the FSCS. Many are not so lucky.

This is a typical FCA warning more recently introduced for these sort of investments

@jeff I am well aware of the riskiness of such investments and have risked no more than I can afford to lose - but I would rather not for all that😉 Regards, Toodles.

Readers here please note that Derril Water and many other renewable-energy generation sites in Devon and Cornwall are still not feeding into the grid.

I am in contact with NESO to clarify what is the origin of the problem. It is related to a lack of Reactive Power Support in the West Country whilst the CCGT plant at Langage (Plymouth) is offline for scheduled maintenance. NESO use reactive power within the mechanism for voltage-control.

When grid voltage levels rise above the statutory levels, generation sites using inverters will switch off to comply with G98/99 regulations. That creates an excess of demand over supply, resulting in grid frequency falling.

That's what occurred in Spain on 28th April 2025, as can be seen in this combined chart from the ENTSO-e Incident Report, section 1.3

Most solar and wind generation in Devon and Cornwall connects via Route-K between Indian Queens and Alverdiscott. Derril Water is at the Pyworthy Bulk Supply Point, midway between those two Grid Supply Points.

There is to be a public meeting to inform residents about How the Grid Works, and BESS technology on Thursday 24th Sept, hosted by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE). It's at the Community Hall, Alverdiscott. 

I will be delivering the (highly illustrated) presentation on grid functionality... in case you live in the vicinity and you'd like to see just how Transparent I am. But with a seating capacity of 90 for the venue, it might be standing room only.