Over the years, solar power has remained to be one of the dominant renewable forms of energy and efforts are relentlessly going on to harness more and more power from this source. Yet the figure is still a minuscule 0.2 percent( in 2008) of the total energy supplied globally. The equation is, however, likely to change as two upcoming solar projects in Wales, UK, by the Newport State Council is about to supply about 4.5MW electricity to about 1000 homes including factories and industries across the area spiraling the city into a Sun City.
The Newport Urban Regeneration Company called Newport Unlimited had identified efforts for developing two multi-million pound solar energy farms on the outskirts of the city at Langston and Michael-y-Fedw that would see 23,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. It was decided in a meeting held in November 2011 with the Assembly Government. In this regard, the Newport City Council has received proposals by Cornwall-based Silicon Vineyard Ltd and Bristol-based Aspire Planning Consultancy respectively.
The first farm at Langston assisted by the Silicon Vineyard is to position 14,000 solar panels on a 13.8 acre site at Hazel Farmland and is expected to cost about £6.25 million. For the next 25 years the project will supply 2.5MW electricity to the National Grid per year to 500 homes along with Tata’s factory site in Llanwern. The company’s director Abraham Cambridge has found this farmland typically meeting the criteria for its remoteness, and he explained that the panels of 1×1.5×3meters dimensions will get neatly veiled behind the existing line of hedgerows.
The other 2MW solar development project at Clearwell Farm in the outskirts of Michael-y-Fedw, proposed by Aspire Consultancy would place 9,120 PV panels of dimensions 1.65×0.99×1.8meters smartly concealed behind the “natural screening provided by hedgerows”. The MD of Aspire, James Davis said the “combination of good sunlight intensity and its remote location” made the 4.5 hectare site ideal for solar energy production. Also, responding to local wildlife concerns, he justified that by the studies conducted by “an independent ecological survey, the proposed development will have no significant impact on wildlife.”
Anyhow, with the growing population pressure, subsequent consumption needs and fast depleting sources of fossil fuel to generate electricity, more and more state authorities are coming forward to encourage growth of renewable sources to satiate the ever increasing demand for energy. And beyond a doubt, solar power is fundamental in creation and sustenance of life on earth.
Via: SouthWalesArgus
http://www.ecofriend.com/entry/proposed-sun-city-to-power-1000-newport-homes-with-renewable-energy/
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