Plans for a solar farm in the Cynon Valley have been approved by councillors. The application for Bryngolwg Farm on Rhigos Road in Hirwaun was given the go ahead by the council’s planning and development committee on Thursday, November 3.
The development will be built over four fields to the south of the farmhouse. With a total area of about 12 hectares, it will have a capacity to generate 7 megawatts with each field accommodating between 16 and 23 rows of southward-facing photovoltaic (PV) panels
The plans, put forward by Bryngolwg Solar Ltd and Enviromena, also include infrastructure, security fencing, access, landscaping and continued agriculture. The scheme will be in operation for 40 years, plus one extra year each for construction and decommissioning.
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There will be no site-based staff during the operational phase, other than for inspections and maintenance. The lowest edge of the panels will be raised above the ground at about 0.6m to enable sheep to continue grazing around the frames and also to alleviate any risk to sensitive electrical equipment.
String inverters will be attached to the underside of the panels to convert the direct current electricity output into usable alternating current power for the electricity distribution network. Two transformers will be installed at the site, which will step up the low voltage electricity produced to high voltage for efficient transportation around the site and to the distribution connection point.
A substation and switchgear enclosure will be installed near to the access to the field. All cabling will be ducted underground at a depth of around one metre. The site will be enclosed by a two-metre fence with wooden posts.
Two sets of gates for vehicles will provide access to the two areas, one being to the northern boundary, serving fields one and two, and another being being to the eastern boundary, serving fields three and four. All existing hedges and vegetation will be kept. CCTV cameras will be installed on the fence. No external lighting will be needed other than temporarily during construction.
One letter was received during the public consultation, which said a condition should be attached to any planning consent for this development to save electricity costs for residents and charitable buildings in the village of Rhigos. It said the applicant should be made to pay for the supply, installation and maintenance for solar panels to the roof of the school, Rhigos Community Centre, Rhigos Community Sports Hall and Rhigos Rugby Club, adding the project would then support the community in the immediate vicinity.
In recommending approval, council officers said in the planning report: “The principle of the development is considered to be acceptable, being a medium-scale solar farm development that would contribute to the Welsh Government’s commitment to optimising renewable energy generation. Furthermore, it is considered that the proposed development can reasonably be accommodated within the landscape without significant harm to the existing landscape character of the area and visual amenity.
“In addition, no objections have been raised by statutory consultees with respect to the potential impacts upon either the amenity of nearby residential properties, highway safety or ecology. The application is therefore considered to comply with the relevant policies of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Development Plan.
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