The Development comprises solar photovoltaic (PV) panels that will provide up to 30MW of power.
Introduction
ScottishPower Renewables (UK) Limited, (SPR) is developing Wauntysswg Solar PV Scheme, comprising of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with associated infrastructure including inverters and a substation compound as well as fencing, security cameras and cabling. The solar PV farm will export up to 30 Megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity to the wider electricity network. The site is located in South Wales near the villages of Abertysswg and Rhymney, Caerphilly on land at Grid Ref 313169, 206548.
Location
Wauntysswg Solar PV Scheme is located within Abertsswyg area of South Wales. The site is located approximately 2.6 km (1.6 miles) to the south of Tredegar, to the east of Tredegar and Rhymney Golf Club and approximately 6.4 km (4 miles) to the west of Ebbw Vale.
The site is predominantly an upland plateau and an open expanse for grazing. It is predominantly Grade 5 Predictive agricultural Land with a mixture of Grade 4 Predictive Agricultural Land that sits directly South off the B4256. The site does not form part of any statutory landscape designations. The application site however, does form part of the locally designated and non-statutory Mynydd Bedwelty Rhymney Hill and Sirhowy Sides Special Landscape Area (SLA).
Proposed Planning/ Project History
A planning application for the Proposed Development was submitted on 06th July 2018 under section 62D of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by the Planning (Wales) Act 2015) to the Welsh Ministers and validated on 02nd August 2018.
The Welsh Minister for Housing and Local Government (the Minister) granted planning permission (planning reference: DNS / 3213239) for the solar park in July 2019.
There are a number of re-commencement planning conditions which SPR are working on currently and will be working with Caerphilly County Borough Council (ref: 18/0626/DNS) and Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council (ref: C/2019/0280) to agree the submissions of information relating to the pre-commencement planning conditions.
Design Considerations & Evolution
The site will consist of a Solar PV Farm and associated infrastructure including housing for inverters and a substation compound as well as fencing, security cameras, cabling and a new network of internal single tracks. The Solar PV Farm is anticipated to generate 30,000kw (30MW) of electricity per annum; sufficient enough to power approximately 9,000 homes.
The solar PV farm is proposed to consist of rows of solar panels known as strings orientated to face south and installed at a 10-25Ëš incline from the horizontal. The panels would be mounted at approximately 0.8 metres (m) from the ground at the bottom of the panel, reaching a maximum height of 3m to the top of the panels.
Each string of panels would be mounted on a metal frame, with metal supports, pile driven into the ground to a depth of approximately 1 to 2m, depending on ground conditions. Alternatively, the frames could sit on concrete footings in the eventuality that pre-construction geophysical surveys reveal certain areas to have archaeological potential. Between each frame there would be an approximate distance of 2m and 6m to avoid inter-panel shading and provide suitable access.
The substation compound is currently consented to be located to the North-West of the site which sits within Caerphilly Borough County Council area. The substation will contain a control building, a transformer, a storage building and communications mast, surrounded by 3m high palisade fencing. For security purposes there will be CCTV cameras located at multiple locations throughout the site, mounted on poles measuring approximately 3m in height and facing into the site, as well as perimeter stock proof fencing and gates of 3m in height at various locations throughout the site.
Preferred areas for the arrays and the ancillary development will be selected based on environmental, landscape and visual assessments. Further details on the finalised design will be available prior to commencement of construction.
View an indicative Site Layout and Landscape plan
Site Enhancements & Key benefits
In addition to the generation of renewable energy, Wauntysswg Solar PV scheme will also provide a host of ecological and landscape benefits to the site. The landscape proposals have been designed to preserve and enhance the existing landscape features, to screen views of the solar panels from outside the site and to enhance the biodiversity and habitat value of the site.
The landscape scheme will include the following elements:
- Enhancement of existing landscape features and new planting, such as hedgerows;
- Grass and wildflower mix to encourage further biodiversity enhancements;
- Enhancement of local wildlife through the introduction of wide ecological corridors, bird boxes and insect hotels;
- Existing field boundaries and mature woodlands will be retained; and
- Construction exclusion zones identified through a detailed tree survey to protect exposed trees during the construction period.
Community Consultation
Consultation is key to the way SPR develops projects and ensure that local communities and stakeholders are given the opportunity to provide feedback throughout the various stages.
As SPR progress with the Wauntysswg Solar PV Scheme, this webpage will be revised on a regular basis with project updates. You can contact the Project Team on the project mailbox address noted in the "Contact" section below.
Project Documents
Please click on the following links to access the websites to view the Wauntysswg Solar PV Scheme planning documents:
Contact
The Project Team can be contacted directly by email.