On Thursday, November 6, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans MS attended the official opening of the new Coed-Ely Solar Farm, alongside Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Ros Davis, and representatives from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), UK Government, NHS, Stantec, Rhomco, Vital Energi and the Welsh Government Energy Service.
The visit came as part of the official switch on for the solar farm, which began supplying electricity directly to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in early October. The visit provided opportunity to see the project generating electricity for one of our most vital public services.
The visit included a tour of the solar farm and a visit to the hospital, meeting the team behind the project and learning more about the unique partnership between Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, highlighting how the project has improved energy security, created local jobs, and generated over £600,000 in spending with local businesses and suppliers.
Coed Ely Solar Farm is made up of 9,400 solar PV panels which can generate 6MW of electricity, with 5MW exported to the grid and 1MW sent to Royal Glamorgan Hospital through a 3.2km private wire network. It’s built on the site of a former 84-hectare colliery tip and is a great example of how we can repurpose our industrial past to be part of our energy future. Marking Welsh Climate Week and tying in with this year’s theme, unlocking the benefits of change, the solar farm creates local power for local care whilst providing grazing for farm animals and thriving hedgerows for local wildlife.
The Coed-Ely Solar Farm was jointly funded by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and part-funded by the Welsh Government.
Councillor Ros Davis, Cabinet Member for Resources said: "Seeing the Solar Farm live is a truly magnificent milestone. This ambitious project has been delivering energy for the benefit of our communities for a few weeks now and it’s fantastic to meet with our contractors, partners and those from the Royal Glamorgan Hospital on site today to see the project in action.
“The visit comes as part of Welsh Climate Week and this year’s theme, unlocking the benefits of change, ties in perfectly with what the solar farm stands for, creating local power for local care whilst still providing grazing for farm animals and thriving hedge rows for local wildlife.
“Any electricity generated that is not used by the hospital is fed into the National Grid, helping strengthen the UK’s overall energy security. But ‘local’ is at the heart of this project, local power and local impact.”
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans MS said: "The Coed Ely Solar Farm is a shining example of how we can transform our industrial heritage into clean energy infrastructure that serves our communities.
“By repurposing this former colliery site to power vital NHS services, we are demonstrating that Wales' journey to net zero can create local jobs, support local businesses, and ensure our public services are more resilient and sustainable for the future."
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “The Coed Ely Solar Farm is a great example of the UK Government investing in a project that creates jobs, drives economic growth, contributes to lowering public sector energy bills, and helps achieve carbon neutral targets.
“We have invested £4.892 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which, alongside funding from our partners, means the solar farm is now supplying green electricity to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and the national grid and playing a part in our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.”
Mark Williams, Partnerships Director at Vital Energi explains: “One of the truly exciting things about this solar farm is that it demonstrates what can be achieved when the public sector collaborates to improve resilience, lower carbon emissions and save money on energy bills. We shared the council’s vision that this project should bring maximum value to the community, so we’re pleased we could employ local people, spend money with local businesses and work with the charities, schools and groups which make up this fantastic community.”
Posted on 07/11/2025