Frequently Asked Questions

The UK government’s recent Energy Security Strategy in April 2022 calls for a target of up to 70 gigawatts (GW) of solar electricity generation by 2035. This is an ambitious national challenge, and meeting the government’s target for affordable, home-grown renewable electricity will require projects with a large generating capacity to be delivered around the UK. The proposed Future Energy Llanwern solar farm would contribute towards this target.

The “Review of Wales’ Renewable Energy Targets” completed by Welsh Government in 2023 states that “we need a fivefold increase in generation of electricity in Wales between now and 2050, with the majority of this increase required after 2030 and with a particularly steep increase through the 2030s.” The gap between supply and demand is growing significantly. Demand is set to double while supply has been flat-lining since 2015 due to the lack of delivery of electricity generation projects. The need for new generating stations to produce ‘green’ electricity is severe.

Source of graph: Review of Wales’ Renewable Energy Targets, Number: WG45896, published 24 January 2023

A diversity of energy sources is necessary for a reliable and secure supply of renewable energy. Offshore wind generation will play an important role as Wales moves towards its target of 100% of electricity being generated from renewables by 2035. But offshore wind can only do so as part of an energy mix that includes solar farms such as Future Energy Llanwern.

Due to the length of time required to approve and construct an offshore wind farm of the scale required to meet Wales’ energy supply, it would also be difficult to meet the 2035 target using these alone. Projects like FE Llanwern would be delivered by 2035 and enable the transition to a renewable energy supply for Wales.

In May 2019, Monmouthshire County Council declared a Climate Emergency, with unanimous support from councillors: 

“Tackling climate change is really important, because if the planet’s temperature rises by 2°C we face risks of drought, flood and poverty – the impact will be massive for hundreds of millions of people. In Monmouthshire impacts that could happen include more extreme weather events (such as storms), water shortages, droughts, species loss and risk of flooding.” 

Monmouthshire County Council is also part of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal. In February 2021, the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) unveiled its Energy Vision and Strategy: a partnership between CCR and the Welsh Government Energy Service, dedicated to transforming the way energy is generated, transported and utilised in South East Wales. This is focused on making the step changes that are essential to meeting net zero carbon targets by 2050. 

Future Energy Llanwern will contribute to delivering clean, renewable energy, and help to meet South Wales’ net zero targets and reverse the impact of climate change.

The project will be located in Monmouthshire and Newport and connect into the National Grid electricity substation in Whitson. The project is in the early stages of development, and more details including the proposed location, its size, electricity generation and battery storage elements will be provided in the coming months when the project is more developed.

The only way to make Future Energy Llanwern a Welsh solar success story is to make sure that is developed with the community, for the community. Our work with local people shapes the future of our projects and ensures the benefits of solar energy developments are realised in a way that has a positive impact for communities. 

To ensure that residents around the site directly benefits from the scheme, we will deliver Electric Vehicle charging points which will provide free charging for local residents.

Revenue from the sale of electricity will be shared with the local community, which can be used to fund local projects and pay energy costs. An annual sum of £250,000 will be provided, totalling £10 million over the 40 year life of the scheme.

As the proposals take shape over the coming months, we will be consulting with local communities and gathering feedback on how Future Energy Llanwern can further provide a positive impact in the area. 

Definitely. According to UK government surveys [1], solar is the most popular energy source. Data in 2021 showed that 90% of the public supported it. When asked about a solar farm being built in their local area, 81% of respondents in 2022 said they were not opposed. Only 3% were significantly opposed, while 8% felt that a solar farm would not be feasible locally.

Absolutely, solar works well everywhere in the UK. It can already produce as much as 30% of UK electricity at different points in the year.[2] It is radiation from the sun, rather than temperature, heat or direct sunlight, that enables solar PV panels to generate electricity. Solar panels do not need direct sunlight to operate and produce power all year round.

No. Once in operation, solar farms can still be used for grazing and farmers commonly report that the ground will still support around half of the herd size that previously grazed it. Some operators consider growing produce under or alongside solar panels. In addition, they provide valuable income for farmers, supporting the viability of Welsh agriculture.

Not at all. Solar provides some of the cheapest electricity, far more affordable than gas or nuclear. The energy price crisis has made a case for solar even stronger.

Because of the amount of energy the project would generate, it is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). This means that to gain planning permission to build and operate the project, we will submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The application would be determined through the UK Planning system due to its size in consultation with the Welsh Government.The project presents an opportunity for Wales to become a leader in the green energy revolution. We will engage and consult with elected representatives and stakeholders throughout the planning process. 

If the information you are looking for is not listed on the website, or you would like to speak with a member of the project team, you can contact us via email at enquiries@futureenergyllanwern.co.uk.