Latest consultation dates announced for massive new Fforestfach solar farm

Parc Solar Caenewydd is a proposed new solar farm that could generate as much power as is used by 11,500 homes on farmland in the Afon Llan valley between Gorseinon and Fforestfach.

Local residents in Gowerton, Gorseinon and Fforestfach are being invited to attend a public exhibition as part of the solar farm’s ongoing consultation.   

The exhibition at Ty Newydd Community Centre on West Street in Gorseinon will be open from 2pm to 7pm on Wednesday 5 October.

Alongside the public exhibition, developer Taiyo Power & Storage will be making presentations to Gowerton Community Council and Gorseinon Town Council on the same evening, which members of the public can also attend.

The developer has said that a number of Councillors and Senedd members as well as local residents have already commented during the first exhibition held over the summer.  

The proposed development includes 57 hectares of green infrastructure with improved wildlife habitats for residents to enjoy from along the footpaths – more lapwing, snipe, meadow pipit and finch bird species, butterflies, dragonflies, common lizard and slowworms may all inhibit the valley once the proposed habitats have established.

Sheep would be grazed amongst the solar arrays, allowing for continued agricultural production on the land in tandem with increasing biodiversity and generating renewable energy.

Parc Solar Caenewydd is being promoted by Taiyo Power & Storage, a joint venture between developer and investor Kajima, which was recently appointed to deliver the new Velindre Cancer Centre in South Wales, and sustainability specialist Low Carbon Alliance Limited.

Launched last year, Taiyo is putting forward proposals for a number of solar and battery storage sites across the UK in order to support the UK Government’s commitment for the country to be net zero carbon by 2050.

By providing a renewable energy source that will generate up to 44MW of power for export into local electricity circuits and power 11,500 homes across the SA4 3, SA4 4 and SA5 4 postcode areas (based on 2020 energy usage figures), 9,282 tonnes of CO2 emissions will be saved – the equivalent of taking 2,000 petrol cars off Welsh roads for one year.

Further details of the proposed scheme can be found at parcsolarcaenewydd.co.uk/