Associated British Ports (ABP) Port of Barry Solar Farm has been shortlisted for a Wales Green Energy award, just over a month after it started generating energy.
The 4.5MWp PV solar farm project was developed by ABP to generate green energy and reduce the carbon emissions of its activities. It will contribute an annual reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced by the port by around 2,000 tonnes.
Matthew Kennerley, ABP Director, South Wales said: “Its development forms part of ABP’s strategy to grow its business whilst seeking to reduce the carbon footprint of its activities.”
The solar farm has been built on brownfield port land and was installed by the solar division of British Gas.
The energy generated will be used to power ABP’s operations at the port, to include tenants and customers, any surplus energy will be exported to the National Grid.
ABP South Wales has invested £5 million into the Port of Barry specifically to generate energy from clean sources.
The operator is currently working on the second phase of the project that will see it extended from 4.5MWp up to 5MWp. This is in addition to the two 250KWp rooftop solar panel systems that were installed at the Ports of Cardiff and Swansea in June 2015.
ABP is up against other finalists in the Outstanding Renewable Energy Project Category are RWE Innorgy UK’s Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm and the National Trust Wales Hafod y Lan renewable energy demonstration farm.
The Welsh Government sponsored award will be announced at the Wales Green Energy Awards Ceremony on Friday 6 November.
