Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Port of Barry has energised a 4.5MW solar farm as part of an effort to roll out renewable energy projects across all of its South Wales-based ports.
The farm has been constructed on a 20-acre plot of brownfield land adjacent to the port and is discreet from public view. Energy generated from the farm will be used to power port operations and surplus will be exported to the national grid.
Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns and AM Jane Hutt inaugurated the project at a ceremony held last week.
UK utility British Gas’ solar division worked on the project and installed almost 15,000 panels at the site between March and June this year, while engineering advisory firm ExCAL also contributed towards the farm’s development.
ABP is also working on plans to extend the farm to 5MW in capacity and Matthew Kennerley, director of ABP South Wales, said the project formed part of the company’s commitment to the environment.
In May this year Shoreham Port retained its Eco-Port status for a third consecutive year after installing a 90kW rooftop array as part of plans to install total solar generation capacity of 2MW across the site.