Disused coal mine among two new solar sites acquired by Conergy

Solar developer, Conergy has acquired two new solar farm sites in the UK.

The larger of the solar sites is situated on a disused coal mine in Wales, with the other site located in Cornwall.  

Both the acquired projects were developed by Hertfordshire-based developer Solar Securities.

Hendai Farm in South Wales will see solar modules installed across 30 hectares of land described as ‘boggy and unproductive’ by Conergy. The old coal mine on the site was closed during the 1970s and filled with around thirty to fifty metres of refuse from the mine then covered with a layer of topsoil.

The solar farm is predicted to generate enough electricity to power 2,400 local homes. Labour MP Caerphilly Wayne David welcomed the development, stating: “This is tremendous news for the local area. The solar farm will be in an ideal location and will certainly capture plenty of sunlight. It will send out a positive message about the Rhymney Valley and the future of solar power.”

In addition, Gelligaer Community Council will receive £42,000 in community payments from the proposed solar farm.  

The Cornwall site is located at Winnards Perch near Newquay. Conergy will construct a 4.5MW solar farm across the eight hectare site that is predicted to supply enough electricity to power 800 homes. St Columb Major Parish Council will receive £13,000 in community support from the planned solar farm.   

Nicholas Richardson, Solar Securities, said: “The site in Cornwall is simply one of the best in the country for generating power from the sun, and hidden away from public view.”

Conergy claims to have almost 80MW of new capacity currently under construction in the UK. Commenting on the two new projects, Robert Goss, managing director, Conergy UK & Ireland, said: “Coal powered Britain for over a hundred years and whole communities grew up around it. Solar is a simple technology, lasts for decades and can be deployed wherever people live. No one needs to get their hands dirty or risk their life so that others can turn on the dishwasher, which is why solar will continue to grow in the UK.”

Conergy expects both solar farms to be completed by the end of the year and expects the farms, once operational, to negate the emission of around 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next 25 years.