PARC SOLAR CAENEWYDD

Statutory consultation has opened for proposals to develop a renewable energy scheme with significant green infrastructure in Swansea, which will generate enough energy to power up to 11,500 homes in South Wales each year.

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The proposals for Parc Solar Caenewydd (PSC) in Gowerton, Swansea will support the continued operation of Penyfodau Fawr Farm and its popular farm shop, and will give the local community the opportunity to have a stake through a commitment to shared community ownership.

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Whilst the site has a long history of farming it was also a heavily industrialised area, with parts of the land having been exploited for coal until the 1950s. The proposals therefore carefully allow for the continuation of farming whilst reintroducing energy generation that will help to facilitate South Wales’ crucial transition in the fight against climate change.

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The statutory consultation, run by the Welsh Government, will last for five weeks. Extensive community engagement on these proposals has been in progress since 2022 in the form of consultation materials, presentations and exhibitions for residents in the Gowerton, Gorseinon Lloughor and Cockett areas of Swansea, as well as local councillors, Members of the Senedd, and other key stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposals.

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The key elements of the proposals include:

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• Renewable energy: PSC’s solar power element will generate up to 46GWh/year of power, in support of the Welsh Government’s target of generating 100% of the nation’s annual electricity demand from renewable sources by 2035.

• Supporting the local farm and shop: The Developer has been working with the farm in Gowerton to safeguard the local farm shop and business. PSC will allow for sheep grazing among solar panels, allowing for continued agricultural production on the land. 

• Community shared ownership: The proposed scheme is committed to a community shared ownership of 10%. Local residents, businesses and organisations may now express interest in sharing ownership of the proposed solar farm by contacting GowerPower, a locally based Community Benefit Society.

• Energy security: The development would contribute towards energy security, and the proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) would provide significant resilience to the local grid network to support growth of additional renewables and avoid potential future brownouts and blackouts.

• Reducing pollution: PSC would reduce electricity generation emissions by approximately 18,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, the equivalent of taking 4,000 petrol cars off Welsh roads for one year.

• Biodiversity improvements: A wide corridor of habitat creation along the Afon Llan will promote arable bird foraging habitats along with the enhancement and extension of existing habitats. Following consultation, solar arrays have been removed from some fields to protect designated areas of significant nature conservation value. Now, only 39% of the site will have solar arrays, and the scheme as a whole is expected to achieve a biodiversity net gain of at least 26%.

Parc Solar Caenewydd is being promoted by UK based Taiyo Power & Storage, a joint venture between developer and investor Kajima, and sustainability specialist Low Carbon Alliance Limited. Since its launch in 2022, Taiyo has put forward proposals for a number of solar and battery storage sites across the UK including a successful proposal for Ford Oaks, 45 hectares of solar and green infrastructure facility that could power up to 18,500 homes in East Devon and deliver a substantial biodiversity net gain of 121%.

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Simon Crowe, Director at Taiyo, said: 

“Parc Solar Caenewydd is a fantastic opportunity for South Wales to progress its ambitious commitment to net zero emissions. We are providing a local renewable energy resource equivalent to powering up to 11,500 South Wales homes during a national energy crisis that continues to affect millions of people. Our proposals support the Welsh Government’s commitment for the country to reduce emissions by 63% by 2030 and become net zero by 2050.

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“The proposed scheme sits on a site that once played a vital role in coal production for heating local homes and businesses. Now, Parc Solar Caenewydd will serve the same purpose to power our homes and industry, but this time via clean, renewable energy.

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“Solar power is the most economical form of electricity generation, costing significantly less money to produce than fossil fuels. We will not require any government subsidies, providing a secure, clean energy source for residents in the Swansea area.

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“More than just renewable energy generation, our plans include considerable biodiversity improvements that will help to restore the Afon Llan valley’s natural habitats, whilst simultaneously allowing for the production of clean energy and agriculture by supporting sheep grazing and promoting new habitats for birds and reptiles.”