03/29/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

Renewable energy projects awarded sustainable development grants

FOUR out of seven renewable energy projects asking for sustainable development grants from the national park were successful.

At the beginning of November Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’ sustainable development fund committee discussed seven applications from local projects and organisations.

Decisions were made behind closed doors with all schemes asking for money aiming to reduce carbon emissions and respond to the climate emergency.

A spokesman for the authority told the local democracy reporting service this week that four applications were successful – Theatr Gwaun Community Trust, Marloes and St Brides Village Hall, Pembrokeshire Mencap and the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

Fishguard’s Theatr Gwaun Community Trust applied for just over £15,000 so 20kW of solar panels can be installed with the potential to generate £2,000 worth of electricity a year.

Marloes and St Brides Village Hall has secured a grant for solar panels but hoped for a contribution of £6,500 from the national Park for a battery system to supplement it, helping running costs to be reduced.

There are plans for efficiency works at Pembrokeshire Mencap, Stackpole, including adding a rain water supply to a pond, improving hot water pipe insulation, installing a UV control on the urinal inlet and funding of £2,878 is requested for a solar powered unit for the wash station.

The Wildlife Trust’s Sustainable Pembrokeshire Islands projects plans to make lighthouse water system improvements on Skokholm along with a UV sterilisation system and solar panel upgrade at Skomer costing around £18,500.

Applications from the Newport Area Environment Group Decarbonisation through Biodiversity Project, and Cwm Arian Renewable Energy Ltd (CARE) Pembrokeshire Energy Efficiency Programme (PEEP) were deferred for further information.

Just one application was rejected, For the Love of the Sea Limited t/a Car-Y-Mor trial seaweed and shellfish farms in Wales.

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