A full planning application has been submitted for a hydrogen production plant (called “Hybont”) and solar farm split between Brynmenyn Industrial Estate and Bryncethin.
Bridgend Council signed an agreement with Japanese conglomerate, Marubeni, in 2022 to move forward with a “demonstrator project” for hydrogen fuel and energy production.
Subject to permission, the fuel station – located to the south of Brynmenyn Industrial Estate – will be used by HGVs, buses and the council’s refuse collections vehicles. Meanwhile, hydrogen will be used to heat Coleg y Dderwen, Brynmenyn Primary School and Ynysawdre Sports Centre – connected via a pipe.
The solar farm – due to be built on land next to the BCBC’s Bryncethin depot – will supply electricity for the hydrogen production process.
The solar farm will use 9,700 panels and is expected to generate up to 5,190 Mwh per year. It will be connected to the hydrogen plant via a cable run under Wigan Terrace and Ogmore Terrace.
The project’s climate change assessment suggests it will save 144,000 tons of carbon emissions over its expected 25-year lifetime and will offset any emissions generated by its construction within 4 years.
An extensive pre-application consultation process took place during 2022-23. No objections were raised from statutory consultees, but clarity was sought from elected representatives and interested parties over construction traffic. (Update 05/05/2023) I’ve been told there were objections from local businesses and residents but these weren’t included (or only noted in passing) in the pre-application consultation report.
Additionally, an option of an overhead cable to link the solar farm to the hydrogen plant was dropped following comments from BCBC’s Education department and Ysgol Bryn Castell over the close proximity to the school.
