A THIRD, much larger, solar farm could be built at Llanvapley, near Abergavenny, within ten miles of an existing one which is believed to be one of largest in Wales.

Plans have been submitted for 45,000 panels, which would be placed on 66 acres of fields at Manor Farm, which lies between the villages of Llanvapley and Llanvetherine by energy specialists Camborne Energy Investments Limited to Monmouthshire council.

The system generates 10Mwp units of electricity each year and works by using solar panels which generate energy fromdaylight, not direct sunlight, and generates electricity all year round.

Camborne Energy has leased the land from Robin Foord and Bernard Blackwell that spreads across six fields on Manor Farm and Crossway at Perth-y-Pia which is used as arable farmland and grazing stock.

It would generate enough electricity to power 3,000 homes, saving 5,360 tonnes of Co2 emissions per year and have a life span of 25 years.

The fields will still be used for grazing sheep and re-instated at the end of its life.

If approved an ecologist will oversee the construction to ensure wildlife protection measures are put in place and a habitat management plan drawn up.

The multi-million scheme is the third in Monmouthshire and comes over a year after a solar farm of 22,500 panels on a 32-acre site across four fields at Llancayo, near Usk, was constructed making it the largest site accredited by the electricity supply regulator in Wales.

In December of last year permission was granted to create a second much larger solar farm of 32,400 panels at Lower House Farm a mile away at Kemys Commander, near Usk.

Monmouthshire council has yet to consider the application, which cost the applicants £32,944 in fees.