New Welsh wind farm to provide secure, home-grown energy
Energy Minister Charles Hendry today granted consent to Vattenfall for the Pen Y Cymoedd project, a 299MW wind farm between Neath and Aberdare…
Energy Minister Charles Hendry today granted consent to Vattenfall for the Pen Y Cymoedd project, a 299MW wind farm between Neath and Aberdare in South Wales.
Made up of 76 turbines, it would have the highest generating capacity of any onshore wind farm in England and Wales. The developer predicts that it will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of up to 206,000 homes a year.
The developer has also pledged to a community benefits package potentially worth more than £55m over the lifetime of the development, including £3m for habitat management and £6,000 a year per megawatt to a Community Trust Fund.
Charles Hendry said:
“Onshore wind plays an important role in enhancing our energy security. It is the cheapest form of renewable energy and reduces our reliance on foreign fuel.
“This project in South Wales will generate vast amounts of home-grown renewable electricity and provide a significant benefits package for the local community.”
Neither of the relevant local authorities objected to the wind farm subject to conditions, covering such issues as construction, noise, archaeology, habitat management and hydrology, being included in any planning permission granted. In response to concerns about possible effects on mining, conditions have been included to safeguard the future extraction of coal from under the site of the wind farm. The requested conditions are attached to the deemed planning permission.
The onshore wind farm would be within an area identified as being suitable for large scale wind farm development by the Welsh Government, under Technical Advice Note 8 (TAN 8).
Notes for editors:
- The decision letter and associated documents are available on the DECC website.
- For more information about TAN 8, see the Welsh Government website.
- To contact the developer, please contact Jason Ormiston at Vattenfall on 07794 524 801 or jason.ormiston@vattenfall.com