Are you required to consult local communities on this application prior to submitting an application?
Yes. We have to undertake a period of statutory consultation for at least 42 days before we finalise the application and submit it to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW). During this consultation period all relevant planning application documents will be made available to view and download from this website and we will notify local stakeholders and nearby landowners/occupiers.
Who do I contact for more information?
You can get in touch with our project team to request further information. Contact details can be found here.
CLOSEWhy this site?
The site selection process looked at a variety of different things when considering the suitability of this site for solar development. This includes the proximity to sensitive receptors, planning considerations and any areas around the site with an environmental designation.
One of the key factors for determining an appropriate location for renewable energy projects is also the proximity of the site to a suitable Point of Connection (POC) to export power to the electricity transmission network, or ‘national grid’.
How much energy will the solar farm generate?
Pentre Bach Solar Farm will have an export capacity of up to 20MW. This will provide enough clean energy to meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 5,500 homes.
Site Location
The site of the proposed Pentre Bach Solar Farm is located on lands north of Pentre Lane, Llantarnam, Cwbran NP44 7AR. It is approximately 500m south of Hollybush.
Size of the Site
The red line boundary is 110 acres.
How long will the solar farm operate for?
If granted planning consent the solar farm will operate for 40 years. As part of the planning conditions the site will be fully decommissioned and returned to agricultural use at the end of the project life. The application will not change the classification of the land, which means it will remain as agricultural land.
Site Access
Construction traffic will access the site via a private lane running North West from Pentre Lane.
Decommissioning the site
At the end of the proposed 40-year operational period, the solar farm and its ancillary equipment will be decommissioned, dismantled and removed and the site fully reinstated to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.
It is estimated that decommissioning of the proposed Pentre Bach Solar Farm will take approximately 4 – 6 months to complete. Subject to best practice at the time, it is anticipated that decommissioning will involve:
Where possible, all of the proposed Pentre Bach Solar Farm components will be removed and reused or recycled. Where this is not possible, any waste generated during decommissioning will be removed and transported by a certified and licensed contractor.
Generating Capacity & CO2 Savings
Once energised, Pentre Bach Solar Farm will generate in the region of 23,000,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity. This is sufficient to power approximately 6,000 homes or 8,000 electric vehicles. Over its lifetime, the development will offset more than 560,000 tonnes of CO2.
CLOSEHow does Solar PV work?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy works by converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is made of photons which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons agitate the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move, or are dislodged, they are routed into a current. This is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. These electrons are then conducted through a wire to the grid.
Benefits of Solar PV
What equipment will be used on site?
The following components are proposed for this solar farm:
CLOSE
What are the impacts on the local environment and biodiversity?
A well-designed solar farm provides many opportunities for local ecological and biodiversity improvement particularly on land that has previously been intensively farmed. Biodiversity enhancements proposed as part of the Pentre Bach Solar Farm include:
What environmental assessments and improvements will there be?
We have carried out a number of environmental assessments and surveys which have helped us to understand what the likely impact of the proposal would be on local flora and fauna and where mitigation measures are needed, including screening to minimise visual impacts or planting to support or improve existing habitat on the site.
The potential environmental impact and our mitigation measures have been summarised in the relevant chapter of our Environmental Statement, which will be submitted as part of our planning application to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales.
What land grade is the site on?
The proposed site is located within agricultural farmland. It is classified as Grade 3b land.
CLOSE
Will there be opportunities for community benefits as part of the proposals?
Elgin Energy is committed to maximising the positive impacts of Pentre Bach Solar Farm. In addition to creating a number of employment and training opportunities during construction and operation, the proposals represent a significant investment in the local area. However, Elgin Energy is also keen to ensure that the plans create a lasting and tangible benefit for the local community.
As part of this we are keen to hear suggestions as to how our proposals can benefit the local community – if you have specific ideas, or details of community groups and projects we should support, then please get in touch with the project team via the project website.
Noise
The only moving part on site is a small fan within the inverters that is similar to a domestic bathroom fan in both size & rating.
Emissions
No emissions will be emitted by the development.
What are you doing to minimise the visual impact?
It is likely that there will be minor landscape and visual impacts for the 40-year lifespan of the project. However, this impact is likely to be localised to the immediate vicinity of the site. As part of our planning application we have prepared a comprehensive landscape plan which sets out a variety of measures, including screening, to minimise the visual impact to residents and the community. A Glint and Glare Assessment has also been prepared to support the application. As solar panels are designed to absorb, rather than reflect light, it is felt that there will be minimal impact in this regard.
Is there an increased risk of flooding around solar farm sites?
There is no increased risk of flood as little impermeable hard surfacing is required, the majority of the solar farm remains open grassland and watercourses and features are not altered in any way. The solar farm infrastructure does not affect runoff volumes. In addition, the panels are raised on a pre-fabricated framework on screw-driven legs, so only approximately 5% of the ground surface is utilised.
How long will construction take?
Should planning permission be granted we anticipate that construction will take approximately 16 weeks.
How will you prevent negative impacts of construction (noise, dust etc…)
Prior to commencement of construction on the site we will agree a Construction Environment Management Plan. This will set out how we will seek to manage issues like noise and dust and outline what mitigations we will put in place in order to do this.
Are you required to consult local communities on this application prior to submitting an application?
Yes. We have to undertake a period of statutory consultation for at least 42 days before we finalise the application and submit it to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW). During this consultation period all relevant planning application documents will be made available to view and download from this website and we will notify local stakeholders and nearby landowners/occupiers.
Who do I contact for more information?
You can get in touch with our project team to request further information. Contact details can be found here.
CLOSEWhy this site?
The site selection process looked at a variety of different things when considering the suitability of this site for solar development. This includes the proximity to sensitive receptors, planning considerations and any areas around the site with an environmental designation.
One of the key factors for determining an appropriate location for renewable energy projects is also the proximity of the site to a suitable Point of Connection (POC) to export power to the electricity transmission network, or ‘national grid’.
How much energy will the solar farm generate?
Pentre Bach Solar Farm will have an export capacity of up to 20MW. This will provide enough clean energy to meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 5,500 homes.
Site Location
The site of the proposed Pentre Bach Solar Farm is located on lands north of Pentre Lane, Llantarnam, Cwbran NP44 7AR. It is approximately 500m south of Hollybush.
Size of the Site
The red line boundary is 110 acres.
How long will the solar farm operate for?
If granted planning consent the solar farm will operate for 40 years. As part of the planning conditions the site will be fully decommissioned and returned to agricultural use at the end of the project life. The application will not change the classification of the land, which means it will remain as agricultural land.
Site Access
Construction traffic will access the site via a private lane running North West from Pentre Lane.
Decommissioning the site
At the end of the proposed 40-year operational period, the solar farm and its ancillary equipment will be decommissioned, dismantled and removed and the site fully reinstated to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.
It is estimated that decommissioning of the proposed Pentre Bach Solar Farm will take approximately 4 – 6 months to complete. Subject to best practice at the time, it is anticipated that decommissioning will involve:
Where possible, all of the proposed Pentre Bach Solar Farm components will be removed and reused or recycled. Where this is not possible, any waste generated during decommissioning will be removed and transported by a certified and licensed contractor.
Generating Capacity & CO2 Savings
Once energised, Pentre Bach Solar Farm will generate in the region of 23,000,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity. This is sufficient to power approximately 6,000 homes or 8,000 electric vehicles. Over its lifetime, the development will offset more than 560,000 tonnes of CO2.
CLOSEHow does Solar PV work?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy works by converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is made of photons which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons agitate the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move, or are dislodged, they are routed into a current. This is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. These electrons are then conducted through a wire to the grid.
Benefits of Solar PV
What equipment will be used on site?
The following components are proposed for this solar farm:
CLOSE
What are the impacts on the local environment and biodiversity?
A well-designed solar farm provides many opportunities for local ecological and biodiversity improvement particularly on land that has previously been intensively farmed. Biodiversity enhancements proposed as part of the Pentre Bach Solar Farm include:
What environmental assessments and improvements will there be?
We have carried out a number of environmental assessments and surveys which have helped us to understand what the likely impact of the proposal would be on local flora and fauna and where mitigation measures are needed, including screening to minimise visual impacts or planting to support or improve existing habitat on the site.
The potential environmental impact and our mitigation measures have been summarised in the relevant chapter of our Environmental Statement, which will be submitted as part of our planning application to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales.
What land grade is the site on?
The proposed site is located within agricultural farmland. It is classified as Grade 3b land.
CLOSE
Will there be opportunities for community benefits as part of the proposals?
Elgin Energy is committed to maximising the positive impacts of Pentre Bach Solar Farm. In addition to creating a number of employment and training opportunities during construction and operation, the proposals represent a significant investment in the local area. However, Elgin Energy is also keen to ensure that the plans create a lasting and tangible benefit for the local community.
As part of this we are keen to hear suggestions as to how our proposals can benefit the local community – if you have specific ideas, or details of community groups and projects we should support, then please get in touch with the project team via the project website.
Noise
The only moving part on site is a small fan within the inverters that is similar to a domestic bathroom fan in both size & rating.
Emissions
No emissions will be emitted by the development.
What are you doing to minimise the visual impact?
It is likely that there will be minor landscape and visual impacts for the 40-year lifespan of the project. However, this impact is likely to be localised to the immediate vicinity of the site. As part of our planning application we have prepared a comprehensive landscape plan which sets out a variety of measures, including screening, to minimise the visual impact to residents and the community. A Glint and Glare Assessment has also been prepared to support the application. As solar panels are designed to absorb, rather than reflect light, it is felt that there will be minimal impact in this regard.
Is there an increased risk of flooding around solar farm sites?
There is no increased risk of flood as little impermeable hard surfacing is required, the majority of the solar farm remains open grassland and watercourses and features are not altered in any way. The solar farm infrastructure does not affect runoff volumes. In addition, the panels are raised on a pre-fabricated framework on screw-driven legs, so only approximately 5% of the ground surface is utilised.
How long will construction take?
Should planning permission be granted we anticipate that construction will take approximately 16 weeks.
How will you prevent negative impacts of construction (noise, dust etc…)
Prior to commencement of construction on the site we will agree a Construction Environment Management Plan. This will set out how we will seek to manage issues like noise and dust and outline what mitigations we will put in place in order to do this.