Plans in for solar farm to power almost 19,000 homes

A new solar farm with the capacity to supply about 19,000 homes could be built on a site in Neath Port Talbot under new plans.Dulas Ltd has prepared a scoping report to Neath Port Talbot Council on behalf of Welsh renewable energy company Octo Partners for the scheme.The project is proposed for land to the south of Moel Ton-mawr and west of Mnyndd Margam, with the site located to the south-east of Port Talbot and sitting approximately 3km from the M4.The 79MW solar farm, called Eirlys, will comprise a battery energy storage system and sub-station for a period of 40 years.It is estimated that the proposed development will contribute a clean electricity generation equivalent to the domestic requirements of 18,910 homes annually.The application site extends to 245 acres and consists of several parcels of land, irregular in size and comprising of agricultural fields.According to the scoping report, the scheme will contribute to renewable energy and decarbonisation targets for Wales.Cardiff-based Octo Partners has significant expertise in the renewable sector, having brought forward more than 400MW of clean energy projects within the UK.Schemes include the 34MW Mynydd y Bettws Wind farm in Carmarthenshire and the 40MW Raventhorpe Solar Project in North Lincolnshire.Octo has appointed renewable energy specialist consultancy Dulas to advise them on the scope of environmental impact assessment work and environmental issues, and to provide sufficient environmental information. This will enable the formulation of an environmental statement which will accompany an application for development consent for the proposed scheme.