Carmarthenshire solar farm gets planning OK
Planning permission has been granted for Carmarthenshire’s first solar farm.
It will be set up on part of the former Cynheidre Colliery site in the Gwendraeth Valley.
A of Carmarthenshire County Council’s planning committee discussed an application by Martyn Llewellyn for full planning permission for a development of a 3 Mega Watt (MW) Photo Voltaic (PV) solar farm consisting of up to 10,000 solar panels set in rows of 18 panels.
The application site between Tumble and Pontyberem is known as Cynheidre Shafts 3 and 4 which is detached from the main Cynheidre colliery site. The site is in two parts either side of the former mineral railway line that is now part of the Sustrans cycle network.
All the colliery buildings have been demolished and the site has been cleared.
Planning permission is sought for a 3 Mega Watt (MW) Photo Voltaic (PV) solar farm consisting of up to 10,000 Solar Panels which are proposed to be set in rows consisting of 18 panels (known as arrays). The site is split over two areas either side of the former mineral railway which is now a part of the Sustrans cycle network.
An officers’ report said that given the 25 year lifespan of the proposal, the site would have significant benefits in terms of energy generation from renewable sources.
The community contributions negotiated to accompany this proposal include £1,000 per 1MV of installed capacity per annum to go towards the Carmarthenshire Energy Trust, a non profit making organisation set up to promote community based renewable energy initiative within Carmarthenshire.
In addition to which, various options are being discussed with Llannon Community Council including the installation of PV panels on the roof of Tumble Community Hall, which would generate its own income for the community.
An officers’ report said: “PV Solar farms are a relatively new concept in renewable energy in Britain, which has been encouraged by the Government’s feed-in tariff for renewable energy schemes up to 5MW. This provides a guaranteed price for electricity generated and an additional sum for electricity fed into the national grid for a contract of 25 years.
“After this contract expires, it is proposed to decommission the site and restore to its former state.”
It will be set up on part of the former Cynheidre Colliery site in the Gwendraeth Valley.
A of Carmarthenshire County Council’s planning committee discussed an application by Martyn Llewellyn for full planning permission for a development of a 3 Mega Watt (MW) Photo Voltaic (PV) solar farm consisting of up to 10,000 solar panels set in rows of 18 panels.
The application site between Tumble and Pontyberem is known as Cynheidre Shafts 3 and 4 which is detached from the main Cynheidre colliery site. The site is in two parts either side of the former mineral railway line that is now part of the Sustrans cycle network.
All the colliery buildings have been demolished and the site has been cleared.
Planning permission is sought for a 3 Mega Watt (MW) Photo Voltaic (PV) solar farm consisting of up to 10,000 Solar Panels which are proposed to be set in rows consisting of 18 panels (known as arrays). The site is split over two areas either side of the former mineral railway which is now a part of the Sustrans cycle network.
An officers’ report said that given the 25 year lifespan of the proposal, the site would have significant benefits in terms of energy generation from renewable sources.
The community contributions negotiated to accompany this proposal include £1,000 per 1MV of installed capacity per annum to go towards the Carmarthenshire Energy Trust, a non profit making organisation set up to promote community based renewable energy initiative within Carmarthenshire.
In addition to which, various options are being discussed with Llannon Community Council including the installation of PV panels on the roof of Tumble Community Hall, which would generate its own income for the community.
An officers’ report said: “PV Solar farms are a relatively new concept in renewable energy in Britain, which has been encouraged by the Government’s feed-in tariff for renewable energy schemes up to 5MW. This provides a guaranteed price for electricity generated and an additional sum for electricity fed into the national grid for a contract of 25 years.
“After this contract expires, it is proposed to decommission the site and restore to its former state.”
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