Pentre Farm Solar Array

Pentre Farm Solar Array Non-Technical Summary

www.kineticaenergy.co.uk 0161 608 4511 Pentre Farm Solar Array Non-Technical Summary

Contents

1. Introduction

This Non-Technical Summary (NTS) summarises Kinetica Energy’s proposed development of a standalone ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) array located at Pentre Farm, near Llannon, Carmarthenshire. The installation of the solar PV development shall have a maximum generation capacity to provide power for the equivalent of approximately 1,100 homes annually. The electricity generated shall feed directly into the National Grid via a new substation. It is expected that the solar PV farm will be in operation for a period of 22 years commencing in Summer 2013. Towards the end of the 22 year period it is expected that the solar PV farm will be decommissioned and removed after which the land would be returned to agricultural use. A combination of field surveys, desktop surveys and modelling techniques have been used to assess the potential impacts of the proposed development; as well as consultations undertaken with statutory consultees, non-statutory consultees and interested parties. A planning application was submitted to Carmarthenshire County Council on 30th November 2012 for the proposed PV array development (Planning Application number S/27526).

2. The Site and Project

The proposed Pentre Solar PV development is situated in the Carmarthenshire Council Area, approximately 8.5 km north from Llanelli, and approximately 0.4 km west from the village of Llannon. A Site Location Plan and Application Area Plan are presented in Figures 1 and 2 respectively below.

Figure 1. Site Location Plan www.kineticaenergy.co.uk 0161 608 4511 Page 2 of 8 Pentre Farm Solar Array Non-Technical Summary

Figure 2. Application Area Plan The site is centred on OS Grid Reference 253392, 208275, and comprises of three fields currently used for agricultural purposes, principally for silage and the grazing of cattle on approximately 10.5 ha of land. The proposed installation would still allow for the grazing of sheep and so will not result in the permanent loss of agricultural land. The site is at an elevation of approximately 85 metres above ordnance datum. The site is generally well screened by mature hedges and is not directly overlooked by any neighbours. To the North, the site is shielded by a corpse of trees. To the east the site is elevated far above any viewing angle from Llannon the village down the side of the hill. To the South of the site is a gradual slope downwards, there are no notable visual receptors in this direction. There are no public footpaths crossing the site. The solar PV farm will consist of solar panels erected on ground mounted frames fixed to pile driven steel supports arranged in linear rows (Plate 1, below). The power generated will be fed into the connected utility grid via a transformer. The grid management system converts the current generated by the solar array into AC current according to the requirements and standards given by the utilities and feeds it into the grid via a transformer.

www.kineticaenergy.co.uk 0161 608 4511 Page 3 of 8 Pentre Farm Solar Array Non-Technical Summary

Plate 1.Illustration of solar racking There is an existing overhead three phase power line that is located to the east of the proposed development in Llannon which is proposed to be used for connection to the national grid. Discussions are already underway with the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) with regard to works required, however it is predicted that any works would be minimal, due to the proximity of the power line. The proposed scheme would have an initial lifespan of 22 years in line with the Feed-In-Tariff scheme although the panels will have a lifetime in excess of 22 years. Should the site cease to be used for a solar PV array then the development will be decommissioned and all visual aspects of the development and infrastructure will be dismantled and removed from site.

3. Planning

The planning policy to be considered in the examination of the proposal is derived from: national guidance and advice (including the Welsh Government Technical Advice Note (TAN) 8: Renewable Energy (2005)) and the development plan (the Carmarthenshire Unitary Development Plan 2006 (CUPD) which will be replaced by the Carmarthenshire Local Development Plan (CLDP), scheduled to come into force in July 2013). Both the National and Local guidance documents identify the requirement to:  Enhance economic success in the countryside  Support initiatives  Encourage farm diversification  Promote exploitation of new technologies  Ensure sustainable development that addresses climate change. A request for a Screening Opinion under the Town & Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 was submitted to Carmarthenshire County Council at the end of August 2012 for the proposed development. A Screening Opinion received from the County Council on 28th September 2012 stated that an Environmental Impact Assessment was not required. A planning application was submitted to Carmarthenshire County Council on 30th November 2012 for the proposed PV array development. A decision on the scheme is anticipated to be received towards the end of February 2013.

4. The Need for the Development

It is widely accepted in the scientific community that an increase in the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have led to global climate changes, contributing to rises in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans. In order to achieve the EU Climate Change targets and ultimately the Kyoto target, the UK Government produced the UK Climate Change Programme 2006, which sets out policies and priorities for action. The main objectives were to cut all greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% from

1990 levels between 2008 and 2012 and to cut CO2 emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2010. The Climate Change Act 2008 introduced the world’s first legally binding framework, by setting targets to reduce UK CO2 emissions by at least 26% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The UK Government set a target of 10% of all electricity to be generated by renewable sources by 2010, with an aspiration of doubling this by 2020. In July 2009 the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) set out the first ever comprehensive Low Carbon Transition Plan to 2020, which is the most systematic response to climate change of any major developed economy. Targets of cutting emissions by 34% on 1990 levels by 2020 have been set out. The proposed solar PV array installation will contribute to the renewable energy targets proposed by the UK Government.

5. Ecology and Conservation

Sylvan Ecology were commissioned to undertake a desk study and field survey on site to establish habitats and species present, and the significance of effects has been determined based on the results of these surveys taking into account their ecological importance and the magnitude of an effect. The survey was extended to include assessment of the potential of the site to support protected or notable species. Additionally, incidental records of fauna were also made during the survey and the habitats identified were evaluated for their potential to support legally protected species and other species of conservation concern, including Biodiversity Action Plan Priority (BAP) species. The site was identified to have no internationally important, statutory designated sites present within 5 km. A SSSI does fall within 5 km of the site; however, considering the nature of the development, no negative impact is anticipated on the SSSI. The site is considered to be, on the whole, of low ecological value. The habitats on site with the highest ecological values are the hedgerows and the margins and due to the nature of the development no impact is anticipated on these habitats, so no mitigation/compensation is deemed necessary. Of a survey of potential protected species on site, only bats and reptiles were identified to have potential impacts from the development. There is the potential for low impact on bats from the development with some trees or branches potentially having suitable habitat. There is also potential for low impact on reptiles due to suitable habitat occurring throughout the margins of the site, particularly along the boundaries of the hedgerows. Based upon the 10 m buffer zone shown in the proposed layout plan, reptile habitat is largely to be retained.

6. Hydrology

Flood Risk mapping from the Environment Agency (EA) shows the site is situated within Flood Zone 1, i.e. the annual probability of fluvial flooding is less than 1 year in 1,000. The surface of the solar PV modules is not considered to lead to a significant increase in impermeable areas as surface water from the panels will quickly run-off to the existing green field below. Therefore the presence of solar PV panels is considered to have a minor impact on the existing drainage. www.kineticaenergy.co.uk 0161 608 4511 Page 5 of 8 Pentre Farm Solar Array Non-Technical Summary

Ground fixings of the PV arrays will constitute a loss of permeable area across the site, as will any additional structures associated with the proposed development, such as inverter and transformer kiosks. Any access tracks and parking areas to be constructed will use permeable materials and as such are not considered to increase the hard standing across the site. A strategy for managing surface water on site to prevent additional discharge or increase in discharge rate from the site is proposed, making use of the existing network of field drains to discharge surface water away from the site at a rate not exceeding the existing green field runoff rate. To compensate for the loss of greenfield from the array ground fixings, electrical housing and fence it is proposed to use wet swales to allow attenuation storage. These would be strategically placed along the base of the arrays in areas where pooling of water occurs and in areas with steep gradients where erosion rilling is considered greatest.

7. Landscape and Visual Impact

Desk-based and site based surveys were used to provide the descriptions and assessments of the potential direct and indirect impacts of the proposed development on the surrounding landscape including views thereof, together with the significance of potential impacts. The potential impacts of the proposed development were considered in line with national guidelines on landscape and visual impact assessment, specified by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and Carmarthenshire County Council. The assessments of potential impacts and proposed appropriate mitigation show that the proposed development would conform with:  The Carmarthenshire Unitary Development policies and would have;  No loss of the direct landscape resource; and, consequently, no change to the impacts upon the Llannon Historic Landscape Aspect Area nor geology of the Mynydd Sylen Landscape Aspect Area (as ascribed by the Countryside Council for Wales);  A negligible adverse impact, not of significance, upon the visual and sensory perceptions of the Llanelli Hills and Mynydd Sylen landscape areas (as ascribed by the Countryside Council for Wales) only in the immediate surroundings of the Afon Morlais valley, within these Aspect Areas;  No change to the key farming expression of the cultural rural landscape of the Rural Carmarthenshire Aspect Area (as ascribed by the Countryside Council for Wales); just a very localised, negligible impact upon the “largely homogenous cultural farming use”, and appreciation thereof, in the immediate surroundings of the Afon Morlais valley;  A moderate, adverse impact on the view and perception of this local section of the Afon Morlais valley, of moderate significance, from the viewpoint of the local landscapes on Mynydd Sylen, which is assessed as being a location with medium sensitivity;  Slight and negligible adverse impacts of no significance from six viewpoints up to 7km away which are locations with low and medium sensitivity. A mitigation proposal for landscape criteria is a minimum 10 metre buffer zone around the perimeter of the development, to protect the hedgerows and root zones of trees; The assessments of potential impacts and proposed appropriate mitigation show that the proposed development would not cause any significant harm and so conform with the relevant landscape and planning policies, notably The Carmarthenshire Unitary Development policies.

8. Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

There are 12 historical records located within 400 metres if the site, all of which are post- medieval. The closest record for a historical record is for a farmstead located approximately 50 metres west of the site. Due to the nature of the proposed development there will be no impact on any known archaeological features during construction or operation. It is considered to be unlikely that there are unknown archaeological features on the site.

9. Transport

It expected that the principal construction materials (i.e. solar panels, array frameworks and electrical equipment) will be imported by suppliers via a port on the South Wales coast, as these are currently the import gateways used by solar generation equipment suppliers. Although the site is in close proximity to major motorways and A Roads, the final part of the journey to the site is not accessible by HGV’s and so initial deliveries will be made to a storage yard (owned by the Pentre farm family), located on Heol Parc Mawr on the industrial estate northeast of Cross Hands. Equipment will be shipped from the port with the main HGV deliveries arriving at the storage yard from the south. From the storage yard at Cross Hands, smaller vehicles will be deployed to deliver the components along the remainder of the journey as the minor roads to site are not suitable for the size of vehicles normally used for such deliveries. No delivery vehicles will access the site from the A476 from Llannon village; Ffosceiliog lane, leading directly from the A476, is marked as unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles; due to the very sharp bend and narrow, steep lane, all vehicles will be instructed not to use this lane. The proposed route for all deliveries from the storage yard at Cross Hands to site is approximately 8.7 km by road. The route then follows the A476 through to the B4306, and then leads on to Croes y Ceiliog where it will enter the site from an existing gateway. The construction period is estimated at 14 weeks with the majority of traffic movements occurring in 2-11 weeks. The bulk of the materials required are the solar panels and array framework which are envisaged to be delivered to the offsite storage unit at Cross Hands at a rate of 3-4 HGVs daily during weeks 2-3. A temporary tracking passing bay and mirrors will be provided within the site entrance to prevent vehicles from backing into or out of the access gate. The construction of the track will require notable movements of light commercial vehicles (LCV’s) at the start of construction, possibly 10 vehicles per day. The number of LCV’s expected to deliver to the site is between 10 and 15 daily during weeks 2-11. No abnormal loads are expected to be required as part of the construction. Within the 22 year period the site is currently expected to be returned to agricultural use requiring removal of the solar panels, frameworks, electrical equipment, etc. The Decommissioning Plan details the indicative decommissioning process; this is expected to use the same traffic management process as outlined in this plan, with updates for any highway changes in the interim.

10. Public Consultation

Due to size and location of the development, extensive community engagement was undertaken during the pre-application stage including: • Presentation to Llannon Parish Council – 17th October 2012. • A public exhibition – Thursday 25th October 2012 at Tumble Village Hall. www.kineticaenergy.co.uk 0161 608 4511 Page 7 of 8 Pentre Farm Solar Array Non-Technical Summary

The public exhibition on Thursday, 25 October 2012 was publicised through distributing posters and flyers around the local area, particularly in the areas where visual impact had already been established. The exhibition itself was designed to display plans of the proposed development and to gain public feedback in relation to the proposals. The exhibition outlined the advantages of using Solar PV as an energy source and provided details of the proposed development. Information was conveyed through posters on display boards and through providing attendees with two-page hand-outs relating to the proposed development. The 50 members of the public who attended the exhibition were unanimously in favour of the proposed development with only two visitors expressing concerns.

11. Conclusion

This NTS has outlined the findings of the documents that were submitted to Carmarthenshire County Council for the planning application of a solar PV array at Pentre Farm, Llannon. All the likely effects of the proposed development have been fully identified and assessed during the planning application processes. There are few requirements for mitigation measures in the project, although where identified, measures have been put in place or are proposed to further minimise any potential impacts. Overall, the assessments conclude that the solar PV array will have no significant adverse or detrimental effects on the natural environment, landscapes within or surrounding the development site, or visual impacts from the proposed development.

www.kineticaenergy.co.uk 0161 608 4511 Page 8 of 8