The number of large scale solar parks in Wales is set to double, with rural west Wales increasingly being targeted.

 

Eighteen schemes greater than 5 megawatt (MW) are already in operation, with 34 projects in planning or being built, according to website Solarbuzz.

 

Council officers say greenfield sites are preferred by developers. The Welsh government is consulting on whether to take responsibility for larger schemes away from local councils in pursuit of green energy targets.

 

The growth of solar parks has been fuelled by UK government subsidies, although these are being phased out by 2015.

 

Eifion Bowen, head of planning at Carmarthenshire council, said developers have been particularly keen on greenfield sites for reasons of scale and to keep costs down.

 

 

Ty Croes School, Carmarthen installed by 1 Vision Solar

 

 

 

Carmarthenshire has seven operational solar sites, with two applications pending. In Pembrokeshire there are three big solar parks, with 12 more being developed or awaiting approval. Three of these are being built after developers successfully appealed against the council's initial refusals.

 

Wales's newest solar park is on the former BP petrochemical site at Baglan

 

On Anglesey, a newly completed 15MW site is now generating energy for the National Grid, while a huge 45MW project will be considered for approval by Flintshire councillors in July.