Council planning to sell off major solar farm project
Nicholas Thomas, local democracy reporter
Senior councillors plan to make money by selling off a major solar farm project.
The Cwm Ifor farm in Caerphilly could reportedly generate up to 20 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power up to 6,000 homes.
The Welsh Government approved planning permission in May for the project, which owing to its scale is considered a “development of national significance”.
Financial return
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet members then agreed to sell the project at a private meeting in mid-September.
Deputy leader Cllr Jamie Pritchard, who is also the council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said “our mission was always to bring a financial return to the council and carbon reduction to help us meet our emissions target”.
He said money made from the project will “help us meet the challenges that we have to address” – the council is facing an estimated £45 million budget shortfall over the next two years.
Construction work on the solar farm is expected to start in April 2026.
The council said Savills has been appointed to manage the sale of the project.
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The best option would have been to sell the solar project to residents and other small investors to ensure long-term preferential tariffs.
The worst option will be to sell it to a hedge fund (etc) that will maximise profits and ramp up electricity prices at every opportunity.
Just who does the Council think it is serving?
In the case of CBC the answer to your question is – “probably themselves “
Should have been a community energy offering.
Councils and WG talk about delivering community benefits but in reality they go for the easy option and a quick buck with money being made by agents and faceless businesses.
Elected or employed to run a multi million pound council, Q 1 how much money can be raised through a sale? Q2 how much money can be raised if it is run in house by the council for 10 years 20 years ++? Which scheme will benefit the council/ general public the most or is desperation for cash fueling the sale of this enterprise.
Same old clusterfudge