BACKGROUND
Infinite Renewables Ltd. is preparing a planning application to construct and operate a circa. 3MW solar farm on land to the east of Bluestone Holiday Resort in Pembrokeshire and invites members of the public to provide feedback on the development proposal.
The solar farm would be designed to supply power directly to Bluestone Holiday Resort, a key local employer, who are a large consumer of energy, with any excess of power exported to Grid. The proposal would provide an opportunity to help reduce the environmental impact of Bluestone’s energy consumption and contribute towards the Welsh Government’s and Pembrokeshire’s targets for renewable energy generation.
Infinite Renewables are preparing the scheme and have instructed a team of consultants to undertake detailed technical surveys and assessments to support the planning application. This team includes Knight Frank (plans), BSG (ecology), EDP (landscape) and Archaeology Wales (heritage and archaeology). The feedback you provide will inform the preparation of a planning application which is due to be submitted next year.
THE PROPOSAL
The proposed development comprises a solar farm of circa. 3MW. The solar farm would consist of free standing, static solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.
The solar farm will have a project lifespan of 30 years. The proposal is fully reversible so that any visual impacts are temporary in nature and the land can be restored following relatively minor decommissioning works.
The proposal would comprise the following:
- PV panels and associated supporting frames;
- String inverters, attached to the underside of the panels;
- Energy Storage System (ESS) comprising a battery;
- Inverter for the battery;
- Transformer station;
- Substation;
- Associated cabling (below ground);
- Perimeter fencing, gate and inward facing infra-red (invisible) CCTV;
- Access track;
- Temporary construction compound.
Due to commercial constraints and potential changes in solar panel manufacturing, at the time of potential granting of planning permission, some element of flexibility is required in relation to the details of the panels, their peak output and their arrangement.
DOCUMENTS
The following documents have been prepared to support the planning application:
Planning, Design and Access Statement (prepared by Infinite Renewables Ltd.)
PLANS
Site Location Plan (Drawing No. Bluestone 201, Revision C)
Site Layout Plan (Drawing No. Bluestone 101, Revision E)
Typical PV Panel Detail (Drawing No. Bluestone 903)
Energy Storage Scheme (Drawing No. TPS-E 20ft HC layout Plan)
Transformer (Drawing No. Bluestone 905)
Inverter and Substation Housing (Drawing No. TR17 EKV0091)
Fencing (Drawing No. Bluestone 904)
Technical Assessments
Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (prepared by BSG)
Landscape and Visual Appraisal (prepared by EDP)
Heritage and Archaeological Assessment (prepared by Archaeology Wales)
Notices
APPLICATION TIMESCALES
The planning application is programmed to be submitted in January/February 2022. Once submitted, you will be able to monitor its progress and make further comments via the Council’s webpage at www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk.