The Parc Cynog Solar Farm, consented by Carmarthenshire County Council in November 2015, is a pilot project of Vattenfall’s co-location concept to maximise the renewables potential of UK Vattenfall sites. The Parc Cynog site already includes 11 wind turbines, in operation for 14 years. Vattenfall believes co-locating with solar power makes technical sense as the wind and the sun tend to generate clean power at different times.

Daniel Wills, Vattenfall’s Associate Project Manager for the Parc Cynog Solar Farm, said: “We want the community to benefit too, so we’re looking to install community solar panels in the area and we have started feasibility work to deliver on that commitment.” According to the company, this would be installed at no cost to recipients, with investments supported by the local councillor.  

Carmarthenshire County Councillor Jane Tremlett said: “We are pleased that Vattenfall is continuing to harness the natural resources within Carmarthenshire. The Community Fund provided by the wind farm has allowed our communities to do things we otherwise would not be able to afford. We hope to benefit further by receiving solar panels to generate clean, sustainable energy to supply our community buildings.”

Construction on the Castle Lloyd Farm site will start towards the end of January with the build complete by the end of March. The 18,860 panels and associated infrastructure will be delivered by approximately 50 HGV loads from Swansea Docks over the three month construction phase. The solar array and the wind farm will share an existing connection to the grid, a first for Vattenfall.

The Parc Cynog Solar Farm will have an installed capacity of 4.99MW and be capable of generating enough power every year to meet the equivalent annual electricity demand of 1,441 Carmarthenshire households.