A councillor has called on opponents of a proposed waste incinerator to make their voices heard after plans for the Buttington project were lodged with the Welsh Government. On Monday, April 19 Broad Energy Wales formally submitted the planning application for a “Energy Recovery Facility” which could produced enough electricity to power 20,000 homes. The application is seen as a Development of National Significance and so will be dealt with by government planning inspectors rather than Powys Council planners. The 12.8 megawatt incinerator development includes other infrastructure buildings including a 70 metre high chimney stack and changes to the roads. During the next month Powys County Council and the community will be given the opportunity to consult on the plans.
NextEnergy Capital has completed construction of two subsidy-free solar farms in the UK totalling 115MW.
Llanwern, located in Newport, Wales, has an installed capacity of 75MW, making it the largest solar farm constructed and energised in the UK.
Total investment was in the region of £43m.
The solar farm, a Development of National Significance, and approved by the Welsh Assembly in 2018, was constructed during the Covid-19 pandemic and employed over 200 workers on site at peak construction.
The asset is situated within the Gwent Levels, an area with special ecological considerations supporting unique ecology.
The site has an ecological management plan agreed in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and other stakeholders, including Newport Council which will restore the landscape for the specific benefit of rare birds, small mammals and invertebrates; many of which are unique to the area.
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“It would be such a shame to see it disappear. This is ancient farmland that we should be trying to preserve. You can’t reinstate that land to how it was after it’s been covered up for years. Not to mention it will be a huge blot on the landscape.” Lesley Thomas, who has lived in Penpergym for 21 years, said: “I understand the need for solar energy but build it on greenfield space or in a valley – not here.
The solar farm is planned over 11 fields. Picture: Great House Energy Limited/ Neo Environmental
The solar farm is planned over 11 fields. Picture: Great House Energy Limited/ Neo Environmental