The construction of a solar panel farm the size of 46 football pitches near Gelligaer is likely to be approved by councillors tomorrow, April 9.
The 28.7ha farm will power 3,000 homes at its peak. Electricity produced will go directly into the local distribution network.
A Caerphilly County Borough Council report has recommended planning be approved for the land at Hendai Farm, which will still be available for grazing after the solar farm is constructed.
The report says the 13 megawatt capacity farm “fully meets the aims of international, UK and Welsh Governments with regard to climate change, renewable energy and energy security”.
Solar Securities Group LTD plan to have the site operational by the autumn, should planning be approved, and will provide a community benefit package of around £41,000 to Gelliager Community Council.
Rupert Warwick, Project Manager at Solar Securities, said: “It’s low carbon and it’s renewable which is part of the UK Government and European Union’s energy programmes.
“One reason we chose this area is because it can be reasonably well screened so the visual impact is kept to a minimum and we haven’t had any objections due to our diligence when choosing the site.”
The company will run the site for 20 years, partly subsidised with UK Government money, but could not confirm whether the construction will provide local jobs.
Mr Warwick added: “When operational there will be a small amount of jobs created for security and maintenance which we hope to create locally.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council has recommended a separate application for three wind turbines at Pen Bryn Oer, Merthyr Road, Rhymney be refused.
NO! This is horrible. The UK isn’t the sunniest of places. The weather will block the sun and little energy will be produced. It’s a waste of time and money.
We need to get fracking!
I agree that fracking, particularly as our relations with gas producing
Russia are fragile, is an urgent need. We should not forget either the
massive coal reserves both onshore and offshore. These do not need to be
burnt in power stations, by using well proven technology we can obtains
smokeless solid fuel, gas, petrol and a host of other useful
by-products.
Alternatively we could burn the coal in situ and
run turbines from the heat generated underground. We also have access to
tidal power and ‘hot rocks’ that can provide vast amounts of clean
energy. Unfortunately most politicians have no knowledge of energy
production and, in any case, are slaves to what the EU commissioners
desire.
I agree completely. The politicians are turning heir back on what the UK can provide.