Solar energy to help power the Royal Glamorgan Hospital

The Royal Glamorgan Hospital will soon benefit from a dedicated and independent clean energy supply generated by the new Coed-Ely Solar Farm.

This Wales Climate Week we are pleased to announce that within the next 12 months, the Royal Glamorgan Hospital (RGH) will be powered by 1 Megawatt (MW) of low-carbon electricity. Commissioned by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (RCTCBC) and with contractors Vital Energi, the 6MW solar farm at Coed-Ely will deliver lifetime carbon savings, including producing clean energy to power approximately 8,000 homes in the local area. 1,728 panels have been allocated to providing energy to RGH. This energy will travel around 3 kilometres via a private wire network directly to the hospital.

Over the course of a year, this will provide 10-15% of the hospital’s total annual electricity demand. In addition, on peak summer days, the solar farm will be capable of meeting the entire hospital electricity demand.

This project is another step towards our work to support the Welsh Government’s Net Zero target by 2050. Read more in our Decarbonisation Strategy 2022-2030.​

Linda Prosser, Executive Director of Strategy and Transformation and Executive Lead for Decarbonisation across CTM, commented:

“We are delighted that on peak summer days the whole hospital will be powered by solar energy. This will have a significant positive impact on our decarbonisation and ‘Green CTM’ commitments and how we can deliver healthcare in a sustainable way for future generations. However, this scheme is not the end of the story at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and we will be delivering more renewables and low carbon technologies in future to further decarbonise the hospital’s energy demands.

Additionally we are proud to work with our partners at RCTCBC and believe that this scheme is a great example of positive collaboration and partnership working between Health Board and Local Authority.”

Councillor Tina Leyshon, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Youth Participation and Climate Change, said:

“It’s fantastic that this project has started construction with shovels now in the ground. 

This ambitious solar farm will give us an opportunity to generate the green energy needed by residents in the very near future, and on a scale required to provide a significant amount of energy into the National Grid and contributing to the UKs energy security needs.

What makes this project even more significant is that it will help support our NHS, with the solar farm directly helping to power the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant.  

The price volatility we see in global oil and gas markets has highlighted the need for us to increase domestic green energy generation and speed up the transition away from fossil fuels. 

The solar farm is on is a reclaimed colliery, with soil quality not suitable to grow crops. However, grazing rights for animals will continue to be available. The project is an example of how generating solar energy can also have a positive impact on biodiversity and farming.”

During the building phase of the project – estimated to start on-site at RGH in the New Year – there will be some disruption to the road leading up to the RGH A&E department, although emergency access will be maintained at all times. Further communications about this will be issued nearer the time.

Read more about how we’re celebrating Wales Climate Week.

15/11/2024