Climate

Learn from nature and secure your future with a solar power system.

Published

2 years ago

November 7, 2023

Celtic Green Energy advises you how to choose a solar power system

One of the most common reactions we have from the general public when enquiring about solar power system is cautious curiosity. They may have already heard basic soundbites about the benefits of solar, that it is a virtuous investment, it’s good for the environment and will save costs in the long term, but how do they choose what is the right system for their needs? What pitfalls can they avoid and as it’s a considerable investment, are they at risk of making a costly mistake?

Let us reassure you that investing in a solar system supplied by a qualified registered, installer is a very low risk undertaking that is protected and governed by regulation. Choose a Solar provider who is registered with MCS – the industry authority who has very stringent compliance to ensure all installers meet their exacting standards and financial regulation.

Naturally, West Wales based Celtic Green Energy meet these requirements and as one of Wales leading renewable energy specialists, have been providing naturally affordable energy solutions the region for the last decade.

Is my property suitable for Solar?

In the first instance, everyone who uses electricity may be able to have a solar system, however, due to the size constraints of large solar panels, not all properties may be suitable. If you don’t have enough roof space, the roof is in poor condition or your roof is permanently in shadow, a Solar install may not be appropriate. As these are large installations, you need to own the property, however, if you rent your property, you would need to seek the landlord’s permission to have an installation fitted.

What can I use Solar power for?

Anything that has an electric plug can be powered by solar power! When the sun shines during the day, electricity is generated by the solar PV panels – even on a cloudy day! You can use your kitchen appliances such as kettles, microwaves, washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators whilst you relax watching daytime TV. If the solar power is insufficient to power these appliances, your alternative power source from the national grid will kick in at the usual tariff charge. Needless to say, the more solar panels you have, the more electricity you generate, the less you are dependent on the national grid and the more you save.

Where do I start?

A good starting point to find a suitable installer is to check out the MCS website for a list of regional registered approved businesses (available here.) or by asking your neighbour who they used and were they happy with the service. A quick phone call will offer you a rough price guide, but a site survey will be needed to ascertain the best system for your needs. At Celtic Green Energy, we have a free Energy Helpline where customers can phone in to discuss their needs in detail. As every property owner has differing criteria from building type, location, environment, living conditions, energy behaviours to monthly consumption – a bespoke Solar system will need to be designed to satisfy these particular constraints. An initial phone call will arrange a no-obligation free site survey when we will be able to advise you on your ideal system.

What do I need?

The Renewable Energy surveyor will discuss your usage needs and address your concerns with the most appropriate system for your requirements. Your current energy consumption is always a good starting point, so a solar system will be proposed to match this precedent. There are a variety of solar panel options available – mostly roof mounted, but if roof space is a problem and there is spare land, a ground mount system could be considered. You can also choose to have stylish in-roof panels, all black or bezel edge finishes.

If you use a lot of your energy after daytime, a solar battery system should be considered where you can use solar energy at night. There are a great selection of solar batteries available on the market varying in performance, capacity, longevity and price. When choosing a suitable battery, go for the best performance at the best price, but make sure it has a good warranty – some are only 2-3 years, others are up to 10 years.

Remember that Solar Power system is a great source of free electricity for other applications such as powering Air Source Heat Pumps, underfloor heating, electric immersion water heaters and charging electric vehicles. What are normally energy hungry products can be powered for free. Ask the energy advisor about the best product solutions for your requirements.

What about costs?

Installing a renewable energy system may be a significant upfront cost, but should be considered a long term investment that will secure your future energy needs without the fear of continually rising energy costs. Remember that during the energy crisis of 2022, a number of successful family businesses such as bakers and butchers went out of business simply because they were faced with astronomical electricity bills after coming out of fixed price energy contracts.

Unlike the purchase of a car, a solar system will add worth to your property and help values appreciate over time. Most systems are staged payments and only paid for in full after completion. Depending on your location, industry sector or if you are a private resident, grant funding is often available to help with the installation of renewable energy systems. Your energy provider will be able to advise you what’s available at the prevailing time.

Sum up…

With the rising uncertainty of energy prices, the Solar Power industry is seeing a mass of interest in their products, but met with profound confusion from the general public. There is widespread competition amongst energy installers offering attractive low cost options and undercutting tactics, but make sure your installer is registered and complicit with industry standards. Thankfully Celtic Green Energy are well established with a formidable reputation for quality and service. they have a particularly good reputation of understanding their products and helping advise customers on the most appropriate choice for their needs, aspirations and budget to provide them with long term fuel security.

If you would like to know more about having solar power system installed, you can call their energy help line 01269 500388 or learn more and visit their website here.

Here’s to brighter tomorrows and sunnier savings!

Climate

Fishguard ‘battery box’ scheme near school refused

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANNERS have refused a Pembrokeshire ‘battery box’ electricity storage unit near a Pembrokeshire town school, which has seen local objections including fears of a potential risk to nearby school children.

In an application recommended for approval at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, AMP Clean Energy sought permission for a micro energy storage project on land at Fishguard Leisure Centre Car Park, near Ysgol Bro Gwaun.

The application had previously been recommended for approval at the November meeting, but a decision was deferred pending a site visit.

The scheme is one of a number of similar applications by AMP, either registered or approved under delegated planning powers by officers.

The battery boxes import electricity from the local electricity network when demand for electricity is low or when there are high levels of renewable energy available, exporting it back during periods of high demand to help address grid reliability issues; each giving the potential to power 200 homes for four hours.

The Fishguard scheme, which has seen objections from the town council and members of the public, was before committee at the request of the local member, Cllr Pat Davies.

Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council objected to the proposal on grounds including visual impact, and the location being near the school.

An officer report said the scheme would be well screened by a Paladin Fence, with a need to be sited close to an existing substation.

Speaking at the December meeting, Ben Wallace of AMP Clean Energy conceded the boxes were “not things of beauty” before addressing previously raised concerns of any potential fire risk, saying that “in the incredibly unlikely” event of a fire, the system would contain it for up to two hours, giving “plenty of time” for it to be extinguished, an alarm immediately sounding, with the fire service raising no concerns.

“These are fundamentally safe, the technology is not new,” he said, comparing them to such batteries in phones and laptops.

One of the three objectors at the meeting raised concerns of the proximity to homes and the school, describing it as “an unsafe, unsustainable and unnecessary location,” with Cllr Jim Morgan of Fishguard Town Council, who had previously raised concerns of the “nightmare scenario” of a fire as children were leaving the school, also voicing similar issues.

Local county councillor Pat Davies, who had spoken at the previous meeting stressing she was not against the technology, just the location and the potential risk to pupils, said the siting would be “a visual intrusion,” with the school having many concerns about the scheme, adding it had been “brought forward without any dialogue of consultation with the school”.

Cllr Davies added: “It is unacceptable that a micro-storage unit should be proposed in this area; someone somewhere has got it wrong.”

Following a lengthy debate, committee chair Cllr Mark Carter proposed going against officers in refusing the scheme; members unanimously refusing the application.

Climate

Fears Sageston wind turbine scheme could affect bats

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

AN APPLICATION for a wind turbine nearly 250 foot high on the road to Tenby, recommended to be turned down due to a lack of information on how it could affect bats, has been put on hold.

In an application recommended for refusal at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Constantine Wind Energy Ltd sought permission for a 76-metre-high wind turbine at Summerton Farm, Sageston.

Back in 2024, an application to replace a current 60.5m high turbine on the site with one up to 90 metres, or just under 300 foot, at the site was refused on the grounds its height and scale would have a detrimental impact on the visual amenity of the locality, with the additional clause of failing to comply with supplementary guidance.

A report for committee members on the latest application says the smaller turbine than previously proposed, representing a 16-metre increase in height from a previously granted turbine “would not be sufficient for it to become an overbearing feature in the landscape,” with no objections from either the Council Landscape Officer or Natural Resources Wales.

However, concerns were raised by the council ecologist that the applicant’s Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Report was incomplete.

“The Council Ecologist questions why the response received in relation to myotis bat records were not included within the initial PEA. As such, he considers that the PEA does not present enough information on the possible presence of bats within the application site area.

“Whilst there may be negligible foraging and commuting potential, there are records of foraging on grassland within two kilometres which have positive identification of myotis bat foraging, along with greater and lesser horseshoe bat foraging. He also notes that the application site is in close proximity to a wooded area.”

It was recommended for refusal on the grounds that appraisal report, and technical note, “do not adequately address the impact of the proposed wind turbine on bat activity in the area”.

At the committee meeting, members heard the scheme had been temporarily withdrawn to deal with issues raised, the application expected to return to a future meeting.

Business

Pembrokeshire’s Puffin Produce a winner at British Potato Awards 2025

Published

2 days ago

December 3, 2025

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKEHIRE-BASED Puffin Produce, Wales’ leading supplier of fresh root vegetables, has been named winner of the Best Environmental/Sustainability Initiative at the prestigious British Potato Awards 2025.

The judges recognised the company’s whole-system approach that combines ambitious long-term targets with practical, measurable action across its grower network and operations.

A sector-leading grower scheme Launched in winter 2024, the ‘Sustainable Spuds’ programme is already regarded as one of the most progressive grower incentive frameworks in UK agriculture. It rewards farmers with premium payments for verifiable improvements in nutrient efficiency, energy use, soil health, biodiversity and emissions reduction. Covering the entire crop cycle, the scheme is designed to drive rapid on-farm change while remaining commercially viable.

ROOT ZERO – the UK’s first carbon-neutral certified potato Since its 2021 launch, the ROOT ZERO brand has targeted a 51% reduction in carbon intensity per kilo by 2030. Progress is ahead of schedule. The potatoes are packed in 100% plastic-free, compostable and recyclable packaging, while 0.5p from every pack sold is donated to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Consumer-facing campaigns also promote low-energy cooking and food-waste reduction.

Verified science-based targets and rapid decarbonisation

Through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Puffin Produce has committed to cutting Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 46% by 2030 and achieving at least a 90% reduction across all scopes by 2040. Since baseline measurements in 2019:

Operational emissions are already down 30%
2 MW of rooftop solar panels (covering 6,000 m²) now generate 100% of summer electricity demand, saving 2.4 tonnes of CO₂e daily
Winter power is purchased from guaranteed zero-carbon sources
Transition away from fossil fuels continues at pace

Zero waste ambition delivered early

Puffin signed the Courtauld 2030 pledge in 2015 to halve food waste by 2030. The company exceeded that target five years early, achieving a 57% reduction despite growing production volumes. Rigorous crop utilisation and technology investments ensure almost every potato grown reaches a plate.

As a Leading Food Partner for FareShare Cymru, Puffin has now helped provide the equivalent of two million meals through its ‘Surplus with Purpose’ programme.

Landscape-scale collaboration In 2025 Puffin co-founded the Wales Landscape Enterprise Network (LENs) – a farmer-led, business-backed model for stacking private and public funding to deliver nature-based solutions. Early results from the first LENs projects in potato-growing catchments are striking:

150+ acres of habitat and soil-health enhancements
25% average increase in five key wildlife indicator species
17% lower carbon emissions per tonne of potatoes
40 kg less nitrogen fertiliser per hectare – with no yield penalty

Emma Adams, Head of Sustainability at Puffin Produce, commented: “This award belongs to everyone in our supply chain – growers, team members and partners – who have turned ambition into action. Agriculture is complex, but it is also one of the most powerful tools we have to tackle the climate and nature crises. By working collaboratively and investing boldly, we’re proving that rapid, measurable progress is possible.”

Rooted in Pembrokeshire and sourcing ~80% of its produce from within 50 miles, Puffin Produce remains the only BRC AA+ accredited vegetable packing facility in Wales. It is the proud home of two Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) products – Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes and Welsh Leeks – and supplies major UK retailers and wholesalers all year round.

A standout example of Welsh food production leading the way to net zero and nature recovery.

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