Planning submitted for new solar farm in Aberdare

Clean energy solutions company Enviromena has energised its first solar farm in Wales at a 30 acre site at Bryngolwg Farm in Rhigos, Aberdare.

The news follows the announcement that Enviromena has just completed a major equity raise of £65million, which will support the growth of its constructed and operational UK solar portfolio to over 500MW by 2025.

The 8.99 MWp project at Bryngolwg will provide power to over 2,500 homes and will offset around 3,700 tonnes of carbon emissions per annum for 40 years. This will help to contribute to the Welsh Government’s target of achieving net zero in the Principality by 2050.

In addition to retaining all existing hedgerows, the development introduces additional native planting and a biodiversity area. Furthermore, the project’s design enables sheep to continue to graze throughout the project, helping to increase the considerable biodiversity net gain created by the scheme.

The project is constructed on low grade agricultural land, which was previously utilised for coal mining activities. The site received full support from Rhigos Community Council and the project was granted planning permission by Rhondda Cynon Taf councillors with a unanimous committee vote in early November 2022.

Chief Operating Officer at Enviromena, Gary Hales, said: “We are pleased to have energised Bryngolwg, our first project in Wales, safely and on time. The team has designed and constructed a high yielding project which can help to make a difference in achieving Wales’s net zero targets.”

Enviromena will manage the site following its completion under a long-term O&M contract, including full performance monitoring, security monitoring, preventive / reactive maintenance and landscape management.

In addition to the benefits provided directly by the ground mounted scheme, Enviromena has supported the local community and provided Rhigos Community Council with funding for a solar system on the roof of the Rhigos Community Hall, providing energy savings to the local community for many years to come.

Lee Adams, Enviromena’s European Sales Director, said: “Supporting the local community is one of our core values. Our commitment to leave all the communities and places that we touch in better condition than when we arrived begins with constantly evaluating the long-term impacts of all that we do.”