A massive solar farm planned in the south of Rhondda Cynon Taf could generate enough power for the equivalent of a small town if approved. An application has been submitted to build a “solar park” on farmland between Church Village and Treforest which could power around 7,000 homes in what the planning report said it is a development of "national significance".
RPS Group Ltd, the agent for the applicant Elgin Energy EsCo Ltd, said that the Maes Mawr Solar Farm will have a capacity of approximately 30MW (MegaWatts) with the power generated being fed into the electricity distribution network. The proposal is fully reversible at the end of its 40-year life and will be decommissioned the land returned to agricultural use.
The power generated will be enough to power approximately 7,000 typical family homes and result in an approximate saving of 1,124 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) a year. The company said that if the project is approved, the solar farm will contribute to the Welsh Government’s 2030 target of renewably generating electricity equal to 70% of its consumption.
