Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

Flurry of solar farm developments prompts ‘significant concerns’ over benefit for local communities

13 Sep 2021 4 minute read
Cllr Carwyn Jones (left) and the Proposed solar farm development near Llyn Traffwll, (right) showing what the panels would look like. Screengrab from planning documents.

Gareth Williams, local democracy reporter

A flurry of applications for massive solar farms has prompted Anglesey’s economic chief to question if local communities would benefit to the extent that they should.

A bid for a 155-acre development neat Llyn Traffwll is one of a number of applications in the pipeline as the island’s relatively flat terrain prompts interest for use other than traditional grazing land.

But with decisions over such major developments largely taken out of the hands of elected councillors on the island due to their sheer scale, one influential member has written to ministers in Cardiff Bay seeking assurances after speaking of his “significant concerns.”

With Elso Energy also consulting on plans for a 160MW development covering 750 acres of farmland to the south of Llyn Alaw, seperate proposals have also been revealed by Lightsource bp  for a 350 MW farm over three sites near Amlwch, Llyn Alaw and Llannerch-y-medd.

Covering a total of around 2,000 acres, it would also see a battery storage facility on the former Shell oil site at Rhosgoch.

While the local authority is responsible for most planning decisions on the island, the sheer scale of these most recent developments designate them as ‘Developments of National Significance’ (DNS) – meaning that the decision on whether to give them the go ahead will be made by ministers in Cardiff Bay rather than councillors in Llangefni following input from the Planning Inspectorate.

‘Ambiguous’

Prompted by such concerns Cllr Carwyn Jones, the portfolio holder for economic development, has since written to the Minister for Climate Change.

While noting that the authority was principally supportive of renewable and low carbon energy, he said that the number, size, scale, and potential cumulative impacts of these solar proposals raises “significant concerns.”

“For solar proposals the potential benefits and positive impacts for host communities, and the local economy are minimal or ambiguous at best,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“The landscape impacts, loss of agricultural land and open space and change from undeveloped countryside to energy generation, while affecting the sense of place, results in a substantial cumulative change to the island which will directly affect communities.

“Welsh Government Ministers and officials need to be fully aware of these strong local concerns as we move through consultation and potential Developments of National Significance consenting processes as I do not currently consider they are fully addressed in national policy.

“The need for, and weighting of benefits for the local community should be strengthened to sit alongside the overall energy production goals at a national level as benefits which must be delivered to be policy compliant.

“We are committed to playing an important role in the need to adapt, respond, and contribute towards the Welsh and UK net zero targets with new low carbon energy generation, but we need to ensure that local host communities and the local economy also benefit from any proposal.”

‘Vital’

The developers themselves have pointed to the need to find more renewable and subsidy-free energy providers as the world moves away from carbon, as well as supporting local supply chains during the panels’ construction phase.

Responding to Cllr Jones, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Continuing to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, including solar, is a vital part of tackling climate change – which will clearly have a positive impact on people across Wales, including the people of Anglesey.

“However, we do expect projects in Wales to deliver benefits in line with our Well-being Goals.  We have a track-record of delivering locally owned renewable energy projects across the country. We encourage local communities and organisations to bring forward proposals.

“Any individual project proposals may come before the Welsh Ministers for decision, therefore it would not be appropriate for the Welsh Government to comment further.”


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
2 years ago

Are these massive solar farms something that the people of Ynys Mon, or else the Welsh Government, have specifically asked for? If not, why is Wales being focused on by a company based in Malaysia? Have Elsa Energy attempted to set these farms up in England at all? Who will get the profits from the power that these solar farms generate? Will the Planning Inspectorate’s input override any rejection of, or restrictions on, the solar farms by the Welsh Government?

Lingua Irredenta
Lingua Irredenta
2 years ago
Reply to  Wrexhamian

What is the problem with the Malay element exactly? The world is asking for solar farms otherwise it heats up. We are all getting them, except unlike nationalist communities we don’t feel that we have to “benefit” from everything someone else does. The profits go to the person who has the guts to set up the business. They always have. Amazon has a site in Swansea. Who benefits from that? The man who owns it and the people who work in it. I am sure if the locals fancy nipping over with a chamois leather every now and again, someone… Read more »

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
2 years ago

This is an issue involving production of energy from a natural resource and should be in the remit of the Welsh Government. If Ynys Mon wants it, and Wales needs it as part of their green economy, they can do it themselves and retain control, ensuring the profits stay in Wales.

Grayham Jones
2 years ago

It’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 A Free Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 stop being little Englanders and be proud to be welsh

Llywelyn ein Llyw Nesaf
Llywelyn ein Llyw Nesaf
2 years ago

Is using farmland for solar PV farms better or worse for the community than building holiday and retirement homes? Discuss. (20 marks)

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
2 years ago

Self-evidently better, but the point is that nobody in Ynys Mon has asked for either.

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.