Conergy To Transform Welsh Coal Mines Into Solar Parks
Conergy has announced that it has acquired and will build two new solar farms, one on the site of a disused coal mine in the Welsh valleys and the other in Cornwall.
The projects were developed by Solar Securities, an established developer of high quality solar farms, and are the latest in the nationwide built-out of new solar power capacity, which has doubled over the last twelve months, leading to a record 7.8% of Britain's electricity demand being met by solar one sunny day in June. The world record is 50% of demand, set by Germany earlier this year.
The larger of the two projects will be located at Hendai Farm in South Wales, on the boggy and unproductive slopes of a disused coal mine at the top of the Rhymney Valley. The mine was closed in the late 1970s and filled thirty to fifty metres deep with "tailings" "“ refuse from the coal mine "“ then covered over with a thin layer of topsoil.
As part of efforts to regenerate the area, Caerphilly County Borough Council has granted planning permission for the 74-acre site to be used as a solar farm for thirty-five years. Once built and connected to the grid by Conergy, it will produce enough electricity to meet the needs of 2,400 homes.
Labour MP for Caerphilly Wayne David said, "This is tremendous news for the local area. The solar farm will be in an ideal location and will certainly capture plenty of sunlight. It will send out a positive message about the Rhymney Valley and the future of solar power."
The second site, at Winnards Perch, close to Newquay in Cornwall, boasts some of the highest solar energy potential in the UK, due to its southerly location, high altitude and position inland, away from coastal mists. Conergy will build a 4.5MWp solar power plant on the 20-acre plot, capable of powering 800 homes, with 25 years' planning permission from Cornwall County Council and a 35-year lease.
The solar farms will be completed by the end of this year, part of 76MWp of new capacity that Conergy has under construction in the UK. Each will feature elevated panels to enable efficient use of the low-grade land, with farmers able to graze sheep underneath. Earlier this year Conergy built solar plants with a combined capacity of 68MWp, including a 7MWp plant close to Cardiff capable of powering 1,250 homes.
Robert Goss, MD Conergy UK & Ireland, said, "Coal powered Britain for over a hundred years and whole communities grew up around it. Solar is a simple technology, lasts for decades and can be deployed wherever people live. No one needs to get their hands dirty or risk their life so that others can turn on the dishwasher, which is why solar will continue to grow in the UK."
Solar Securities consulted widely with local communities, councillors and MPs throughout the planning process. Miles of new and reinforced hedgerows will protect sightlines and create new habitats for animals including hedgehogs, birds, dormice and bats. Local communities are also set to benefit from one-off payments linked to the plants' generating capacities. Gelligaer Community Council in Caerphilly will receive £42,000 to support improvements to local amenities, while St Columb Major Parish Council in Cornwall will receive £13,000.
Nicholas Richardson, Solar Securities, said, "Each site is attractive for different reasons. The project in South Wales will turn unproductive acreage into an integral part of the local grid, while aesthetics and biodiversity will be greatly improved. The site in Cornwall is simply one of the best in the country for generating power from the sun, and hidden away from public view. We're delighted the projects are going ahead with Conergy, one of the most experienced and best builders of large solar projects in the world."
The plants are expected to avoid 200,000 tonnes of climate-changing carbon dioxide emissions over the next twenty-five years.
