The partnership between Gower Electric and The Gower Heritage Centre.
The Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill
The Gower Heritage Centre is based around a 12 th century water mill and focuses on preserving the rich culture of the Gower Peninsula, Gower Electric CIC operates the very latest solar renewable energy at the centres farm in Dunvant and the partnership seeks to promote the whole concept of how renewable energy schemes can help us take care of the planet and community as well as support the maintenance of the beautiful peninsula for the future.
The reason that the two establishments are so connected is because of Roy Church, the director of Gower Electric and a Trustee of The Heritage Centre. In 2012 Roy met up with Gower Power to discuss the feasibility of establishing a community-owned solar park on 4 acres of the farmland. A joint venture, now called Gower Regeneration Ltd, was set up to obtain planning and finance to construct a 1 MWH solar park with 3568 solar panels – enough to power approx. 300 homes.
Initially, the solar farm was funded by the Welsh Government and Development Bank of Wales, and a group of partners set up the project as a community solar farm. Following construction and getting the site operational, the loans were replaced by direct shareholder investment through a crowdfunding scheme. The Solar Scheme is currently operated as a Community Benefit Society by Gower Regeneration Limited www.regengower.co.uk.
Gower Electric’s Solar Farm in Dunvant
The Solar Park started generating in 2017 and a few years later a battery storage scheme was also set up at the farm. Gower Electric CIC was then formed to ensure the power could be sold locally and was the first community Local Electricity Supply Company in Wales.
The farm also powers 2 EV charging points and they are available for the general public to use. Another aspect of the solar farm is that sheep graze in the same field as the solar panels. They keep the grass down and have shelter underneath the solar panels. The sheeps wool is used for the woollen mill project at the heritage centre.
Our Ryeland Sheep grazing in the solar farm
One of the main purposes of Gower Electric is the community benefit aspect, the solar scheme is being run as a Community Interest Company which means that any future profits can be used to support community schemes such as growing food locally and sustainably.
One of the projects that Gower Electric has been a part of is assisting the restoration of the water mill at The Gower Heritage Centre. The water mill dates back to the 12th century and is still operational today, as the mill is so old it needs that extra bit of care and attention to keep it up and running.
The water wheel provides the power to turn a pair of millstones which can grind corn, wheat, barley or oats. Each stone weighs over 1000 kilos.
The waterwheel is powered by a water course feed from a stream and underground water sources from the valley behind the Mill grounds by a stream that runs from the foot of Penmaen Hill back to Cefn Bryn Hill. The mill has a sluice gate that controls the amount of water that comes in. When the gate is open, water will fall into the water wheels buckets. The weight of the water forces the wheel to spin. The Gower Peninsula was once home to over 30 water Mills, now Parkmill is the last one in operation.
History of Parkmill
A Corn Mill was established on this site sometime during the 12th century, as part of the estate belonging to the powerful Le Breos family, who were granted sovereignty of Gower by King John in 1203. The Le Breos family established Parc Le Breos, a deer park of about 500 acres on land to the west of Parkmill, used for both deer hunting and military training. Significant parts of the park can still be found today. The Mill was likely established as part of the park development serving the needs of the locality, grinding oats for animal meal and barley for daily bread.
The Water Mill
The Heritage Centre with its water-powered equipment has always been involved in renewable energy and the development of a Solar Park was a natural extension of its activities. But that is not all there is to the Heritage Centre.
On the 30 acres of farmland, some of the produce that is grown is sold in the Heritage Centre, in particular the Christmas trees. The farm also works with organic food producers to grow a variety of new crops at the farm. Current producers at the Farm include Prenteg eggs, Summit Good CIC and Good For You Ferments, Swansea. The farm is also increasing production and the range of potted Christmas Trees and logs for sale.
If you’d like to visit the solar farm or the water mill for yourself then get in contact via the Heritage Centre at www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk
