Fears over plans for 120-acre solar farm

A PETITION has been launched against plans for a large solar farm planned for the Bynea area of Llanelli.

- IAN LEWIS

Windel Solar 11 Ltd intends lodging a Developments of National Significance (DNS) planning application to Pedw (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales), for a 35MW solar farm on approximately 120 acres of land at Pencoed Ganol Farm, east of Pendderi Road.

The plans, which are at pre-application stage, seek permission for “installation of a solar farm comprising ground mounted solar PV panels with a generating capacity of up to 35MW, including permanent grid connection hub, mounting framework, inverters, underground cabling, stock proof fence, CCTV, internal tracks and associated infrastructure and landscaping . . as well as the demolition of existing farm buildings on site.”

On its website Windel Solar 11 Ltd, which is a subsidiary of Windel Energy and Recurrent Energy, says the solar farm will be operational for 40 years, after which it will be returned to agricultural land.

Windel adds the solar farm will cut “greenhouse gas emissions through the provision of local, renewable energy” and “existing trees and hedgerows will be retained and protected and supplemented by additional native species planting to support local habitats as part of a wider ecological network’

The company also says the project “will lead to direct and indirect local job creation through the construction and site operation phases’