A PEMBROKESHIRE solar farm scheme, which would provide power for nearly 3,300 homes, has been put on hold once again, after previously being deferred for a site visit.

In an application listed at Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee meeting of March 18, members were recommended to approve a scheme by Wessex Solar Energy (WSE Pembrokeshire Ltd) for a 9.99MW solar farm and associated works at Lower Nash Farm, near Pembroke Dock.

The proposed scheme would be spread over three fields, amounting to approximately 14 hectares with some 25,000 PV panels on site, some 120 metres from the national park.

The scheme was previously deferred from the February meeting so members could visit the site after concerns were raised about the loss of the most valuable agricultural land.

The development, some of it on Best and Most Versatile (BMV) Agricultural land, would provide approximately 3,296 households with renewable energy annually, members have previously heard.

A larger 22MW scheme covering 34.25ha was previously refused in 2021 due to the effect on BMV land.

Planning Policy Wales (PPW) requires that BMV agricultural land “should be conserved as a finite resource for the future with considerable weight given to protecting it from development,” adding: “Such land should only be developed if there is an overriding need for the scheme and either previously developed land or land in lower agricultural grades are unavailable.”

Welsh Government Soil Policy & Agricultural Land Use Planning Unit has objected to the latest scheme on BMV grounds, saying the return to agriculture as BMV agricultural land is “…seldom practicable”.

Four objections to the scheme were received, with local community council Cosheston raising concerns about the use of BMV land.

At the February meeting, agent Charlotte Peacock was questioned about the use of the BMV land by committee chair Cllr Simon Hancock, who said: “Farming and agriculture are fundamental to the security of this country; the way that the population is increasing we really need to ensure farmland is protected.”

The agent said the farmer landowner would receive a guaranteed income which would be more reliable than crop values, adding: “The greatest threat to future security is climate change, the single biggest threat to our output of crops.”

Local member Cllr Tessa Hodgson, as a public speaker, successfully called for a site visit before any decision was made saying it was “surely better to use poorer land and brownfield sites” for such developments,” adding: “Does the permanent loss of prime agricultural land outweigh the benefit of renewable energy?”

At the start of the March meeting, members were told the scheme had been temporarily withdrawn due to issue with the publicity of an environmental statement accompanying the application; the proposal expected to now be considered at the April meeting.

SENEDD CYMRU’S Economy Committee published its report ‘Green Economy’, which a series of recommendations on the future of the renewable industry in Wales.

Members of the Committee made particular reference to the content of local supply chains, local ownership, and skills. Bute Energy has welcomed the report.

Bute Energy is developing the largest pipeline of onshore wind in Wales, capable of generating more than 2.2GW of clean energy by 2030, enough to power 2.25m homes and create up to 2,000 new jobs.

The company is backed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and the Welsh Pension Partnership, meaning that local authority pension holders across the 8 member authorities will benefit directly from Wales’ clean energy mission.

Responding, Community Investment and Communications Director Catryn Newton said: “Onshore wind not only represents the quickest route to the decarbonisation of Wales’ energy system, but also typically has higher levels of local and Welsh suppliers across the lifetime of the projects.

“At Bute Energy we’re working tirelessly to set a new standard for our projects – whether that’s our Net Zero Skills Strategy, how we deploy our potential £20m a year community benefit fund to benefit local communities, our social value in procurement standard.

“Our mission is not only to power Wales with clean energy but to maximise the investment in our clean energy transition to the benefit of Wales and our communities.”

Bute Energy states that its partnership with the Welsh Pension Partnership represents the most equitable form of community and shared ownership in Wales. Hundreds of thousands of Welsh pension holders will benefit from the transition to clean power.

The company will also invest up to 25% of its Community Benefit Fund to support local community energy schemes which it will gift to communities, local services and charities in the communities nearest its energy parks.

SAMUEL KURTZ Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, delivered the closing address at the Empower Cymru 2025 conference this week.

The event, held at Techniquest in Cardiff, brought together industry professionals from wind and solar energy, oil and gas, education providers, and other key stakeholders to discuss the future of Wales’ energy sector.

Closing the conference, the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Energy highlighted the prosperity that energy production can bring to communities that have long felt left behind.

He reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for pragmatic policies that encourage investment in renewable energy, including hydrogen production and carbon captur, while being realistic about Wales’ need for oil and gas for the foreseeable future.

Speaking after the event, he said: “It was fantastic to see so many people from across the energy sector come together to discuss Wales’ future. We have talked at length about our country’s incredible potential for renewables, thanks in part to our extensive coastline and access to the Celtic Sea, but now is the time for action.

“If we can demonstrate that Wales is open for business, we can attract investment in infrastructure and education, ensuring secure energy supplies, creating green jobs, and generating prosperity for our local communities.

“For too long, industrial decline has led to fewer job opportunities and economic stagnation in parts of Wales. By embracing energy production, we have the chance to reverse that trend, revitalise our economy, and safeguard our economic and energy security during these turbulent times.”