Why solar rather than agriculture?

It isn’t a choice – solar projects can do both. The proposed layout for the solar project has been designed in such a way that most of the open grassland on the site will be suitable for grazing small livestock, allowing the land to retain the potential for agricultural use.

Will the energy generated provide electricity to homes in the area?

The solar farm will be connected to the National Grid substation in Upperboat, Pontypridd. Electricity generated will enter the National Grid transmission network and be transported across Wales.

What is a solar farm and how does it generate electricity?

A solar farm, which may also be known as a solar power station or solar park, is comparable to conventional crop farms. Whereas a crop farmer uses the energy from the sun to help grow their crops, solar farms use the energy from the sun to convert to electricity.
A solar farm consists of a series of solar arrays that hold all the individual solar panels (also known as photovoltaic arrays). The energy from the sun is collected in these arrays and converted into electricity.
The electricity will be provided directly to the National Grid.

Where is the Glyn-taf solar farm located?

The site sits across the wards of Rhydfelin Central, Trallwng and Treforest, in Rhonda Cynon Taf Country Borough, 2km to the east of Pontypridd town centre.
The solar farm will be located on approximately 101 hectares (ha) of grade 4 agricultural land on the southern slopes of Eglwysilan Common, to the southeast of Pontypridd Golf Club.

What is the farm currently used for?

The site is currently used for livestock grazing.

Why did you choose this site?

It is predominantly south facing and therefore gets a good solar resource and is close to a grid connection point, thereby maximising the efficient export of the renewable energy produced onto the grid network system.
In addition, the site does not contain any Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land and also has good transport links to minimise disruption to the local road networks during construction and decommissioning.

What security measures will be put in place?

To ensure that the solar farm is secure to prevent theft and ensure health and safety, each field will have 2.0m high deer/stock fencing.
The perimeter of the solar farm will be protected by a CCTV system, which will be either pole or fence-mounted, located strategically around the site. The location of the cameras will be finalised once the design is fixed.

How will the solar farm be connected to the grid?

The proposed development will connect to the electricity network via underground cables to the National Grid Substation at Upperboat, roughly 4km from the site.

How many trees and hedgerows do you anticipate will have to be cleared to carry out this proposal? Will you be planting new trees?

It is not envisaged that any trees will be removed due to the proposals. It is possible that trees may need to be pruned to allow access.
The proposals aim to avoid most existing hedgerows, again some pruning may be needed to allow safe access. Generally, it is planned that existing hedgerows within the site will be further improved by additional planting.

What ecological features are on or near the site?

The site has had a full ecological survey. As the scheme will predominantly be sited on land currently used to graze sheep, it is hoped there will be an opportunity to increase the ecological value of the land in some locations where grazing is restricted.

What impact will the construction and operation of the solar farm have on existing onsite ecological features? And what measures will you put in place to mitigate the impact of the development?

The proposal will take account of local features including the special landscape area.
We will position the arrays to respond to existing physical features such as ditches, public rights of way, trees, existing farm access tracks and hedgerows with arrays set back appropriate buffer distances as informed by technical guidance.
We are undertaking detailed site surveys and further assessments to review all biodiversity impacts and explore opportunities for biodiversity enhancements in developing our detailed proposals.

Will you be aiming to deliver a biodiversity net gain?

Yes, this is a requirement of the planning process. A combination of measures will be designed by both ecological and landscape consultants.

What impact will the project have on wildlife in the area?

Overall, solar projects offer considerable potential to increase biodiversity levels, mainly when it comes to agricultural landscapes. By reversing trends in agricultural intensification, fostering and maintaining natural habitats within the landscape matrix, and creating microhabitats important for insects, our projects are a good source for mitigating the causes of decline in pollinator populations (caused by agriculture), for instance.
Pollinators are of extreme importance to our ecosystems, helping flowering plants to reproduce, increasing landscape heterogeneity and connectivity, and improving overall biodiversity. In some of our sites, we even work with local bee farmers and host beehives, because of the diverse ecosystem that is generated on-site.

What are the visual impacts of the scheme and how is the visual impact of the scheme being mitigated?

An assessment of the likely significant landscape and visual effects of the solar farm is being undertaken and will identify any required mitigation measures. The location was chosen to minimise impacts on local residential amenity.
In terms of the design of the solar farm, there will be:
• green spaces between fields
• solar arrays broken up by non-uniform design of the site – working around existing walls, hedgerows, footpaths, and electricity lines.

For people using public rights of way and Taff Trail National Cycle Route, will they be impacted, and will they be able to see the solar farm?

The right of way cuts through the site, so the farm will be visible from the path. The solar arrays will be located a suitable distance from the path to minimise obstruction for users.

What measures will you put in place to manage drainage and avoid flooding?

Although no flood risk has been identified on site, drainage infrastructure will be included to ensure the development causes no additional run-off. A Drainage Impact Assessment will be required as part of the planning application. This will be prepared by a specialist Consultant appointed by the applicant. They will liaise with the Council’s Flood Risk Team and Natural Resources Wales and agree on the required methodology.
This will ensure that development will not impact the risk of localised surface water flooding and that any post-development runoff rates should be better or equivalent to pre-development greenfield rates. Appropriate temporary drainage and settlement ponds to manage anticipated surface water run-off from and laydown compound areas will also be in place during construction.
Any watercourses or waterbodies are typically buffered from development, usually 5m depending on their size. Riparian strips provide a suitable standoff to these sensitive areas. To avoid watercourses being contaminated by construction, construction best practice and a CEMP (Construction Environmental Management Plan) is prepared for approval as part of the formal planning application along with any mitigation required in relation to drainage, ecology, and water supplies.

Will the solar farm increase the risk of flooding?

It is not anticipated that the proposal will increase the risk of flooding, but a full technical appraisal will be completed when the detailed design is finalised.

Will there be an increase in surface water run-off due to the solar farm?

PV Panels are aligned to ensure rainwater can pass through the arrays easily and disperse evenly, thus ensuring runoff will be no greater when compared to the pre-developed site. Further, existing vegetation underneath the panels is retained to help mitigate run-off and improve attenuation.

Will private water supplies be contaminated?

The presence of any Private Water Supplies (PWS) will be ascertained prior to submission of a consent application through a Private Water Assessment. These will be suitably safeguarded and protected during both construction and operation. There are no water supply needs at the site beyond minor welfare requirements, of which tanks may be used.

How many traffic movements do you anticipate per day and what kind will they be?

During the construction phase, it is anticipated that there will be some temporary effects on transport and access, particularly given the rural nature of the site and surrounding area. This is currently estimated to be in the region of circa 20 HGV movements a day with a further 15-20 movements per annum once in operation. Detailed traffic impact assessments and a traffic management plan will be provided as part of the planning application.

If planning permission is granted, when do you think construction will start?

We’ll submit plans by the end of 2024, and if it gets approved, we will start construction in mid 2026.

Is there potential to extend the operation of the solar farm beyond 35 years?

Any extension to the operational period of the solar farm would require a further planning application. Therefore, any plans would be subjected to the necessary scrutiny.

Will access to public rights of way network (footpaths and bridleways) be impacted during or after the construction phase?

The PRoW will not be affected by the proposals, including during the construction phase. Footpaths do cross the site, but their access will not be restricted. These will be maintained and potentially improved, where required, and will remain open and accessible to the public during construction.
There is no new PRoW planned for the scheme. Existing PRoW will be maintained, and potentially improved, where required.

What are you going to ‘give’ the local community and for how long?

The project is considering a number of ways in which it can contribute to the local community and welcomes any feedback and suggestions. Through positive engagement with the community at the first series of Public Exhibitions, considerations include contributions to local clubs and community foodbanks, as well as shared ownership options of the project itself. These will be further developed over the remainder of the consultation period.

Will you support local businesses during construction and operation?

We are committed to working with the Council and seeking to source as many resources as possible locally. Our workforce will also support local businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors.

Will there be an opportunity for local ownership and profit shares, giving local people a vested interest?

Nadara is interested to hear from the local community on ideas relating to community ownership and how this scheme might bring local community benefit.

How much is my electricity bill going to be reduced by?

Unfortunately, Nadara are not an energy provider and therefore cannot provide cost reductions to household energy bills. The project is however considering a number of alternate ways in which it can contribute to the local community and welcomes any feedback and suggestions.