Vattenfall is to start construction later this month of the 4.99MW Parc Cynog solar farm in Wales.
The project, the company’s first UK solar power project, is expected to generate its first power in March.
Vattenfall said the 18,860 panels and associated infrastructure will be delivered by approximately 50 HGV loads from Swansea Docks over the three-month construction phase.
It is a pilot project of Vattenfall’s co-location concept that aims to maximise the renewables potential of the company’s UK sites. The Parc Cynog site already includes 11 wind turbines, which have been in operation for 14 years.
“Co-locating with solar power makes technical sense as the wind and the sun tend to generate clean power at different times,” said Vattenfall.
The solar array and the wind farm will share an existing connection to the grid, also a first for Vattenfall.
The site is also used for sheep grazing and this can continue unhindered by the array.
Vattenfall will also start feasibility studies shortly into installing solar panels on community buildings at no cost to recipients.
Vattenfall associate project manager for the Parc Cynog solar farm Daniel Wills said: “We have made the most of the wind farm site and we are doing that again as a pioneer of co-location with solar power.”
Image: the solar array will use the same grid connection as the existing wind farm (sxc)
