Rural economy will be boosted once the largest solar park in Wales will connect to the green energy grid today. The £5m project at Cilgerran in North Pembrokeshire is the first in the UK to use a new solar panel manufactured in California, and its owners claim it will make a large area of the county carbon neutral.

Just seven months ago, Western Solar was granted permission to lay 10,000 solar panels close to Rhos-Y-Gilwen mansion.

Glen Peters, managing director of the project and founder of the country retreat, conference and arts centre near Cardigan, said as well as creating green energy the move creates a sustainable income to fund the centre.