The Coed-Ely Solar Farm is now officially switched on and supplying electricity directly to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. This means that one of our most vital public services is being powered by energy generated right here in our community.
Built on a reclaimed colliery site, the solar farm features 9,000 panels and produces enough electricity to power around 1,800 homes each year, and as well as powering homes, that energy is helping keep the lights on, machines running, and care flowing at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
Further to this, the project has created local jobs and generated over £600,000 in spending with local businesses and suppliers. It’s a major step forward in making vital public services more resilient and less dependent on unpredictable energy markets.
The Coed-Ely Solar Farm was jointly funded by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and part-funded by the Welsh Government.
Councillor Ros Davis, Cabinet Member for Resources said: “This milestone sees all the hard work pay off as the Royal Glamorgan Hospital receives its first boost of power from the Coed-Ely Solar Farm. This ambitious project is providing a unique opportunity to deliver energy for the benefit of our communities.
“Any electricity generated that is not used by the hospital is fed into the National Grid, helping strengthen the UK’s overall energy security. But ‘local’ is at the heart of this project, local power and local impact.”
Mark Williams, Vital Energi’s Partnerships Director, said: “Seeing clean, low-carbon energy transmitted to Royal Glamorgan Hospital is more than just a technical achievement, it’s a demonstration of how the public sector can collaborate to achieve its net zero goals. This is another fantastic addition to Wales’s low-carbon energy infrastructure and one which will contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future for everyone.
“We’d like to congratulate Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council on a visionary scheme which created a template for collaboration which can be replicated throughout Wales and beyond.”
The Coed Ely Solar Farm was constructed on a reclaimed colliery site, turning 84 acres of former industrial land into a renewable energy asset for the region. As one of the largest local-authority solar projects in Wales, it generates enough clean energy to power around 8,000 homes annually while contributing 5MW to the grid.
Claire Thompson, Executive Director of Strategy and Transformation, said: “This is a landmark moment for our health board and for the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. The switch-on of solar energy is more than just a technical achievement – it’s a symbol of our commitment to delivering healthcare in a sustainable, forward-thinking way.
“We’re proud to be part of a project that not only reduces our carbon footprint but also strengthens our partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Vital Energi. This is just the beginning of our journey toward a greener future.
“A heartfelt thank you to all our colleagues whose dedication and hard work made this milestone possible.”
Matt Ace, Regional Director, for Stantec in Wales, added: “This aspirational project required careful and extensive insight around solar design and power delivery as well as complex geological investigations and reliable economic modelling. We are proud to have been part of an incredibly collaborative and forward-thinking project team. We believe this scheme demonstrates what can be achieved when public and private partners share resilience, efficiency, and innovation as common goals.”
