Consultation into wind farm development that could see communities benefit from £1m a year

A series of public consultation events are set to be held into plans for a major wind farm development in Caerphilly County Borough.

The development could see communities benefit from up to £1 million a year in funding.

Around 20 wind turbines measuring 200 metres high could be built on a site north of Senghenydd, near the border with Rhondda Cynon Taf, in an area already designated by the Welsh Government as suitable for a wind farm.

The site would have the potential to power between 70,000 and 114,000 homes per year with clean, green energy.

Consultation dates

Tuesday, November 2 – Senghenydd Community Centre

Wednesday, November 3 – YMCA Centre, Abertridwr

Friday, November 5 – Llanbradach Community Centre

Wednesday, November 10 – Nelson Institute

Thursday, November 11 – Cilfynydd Rugby Club

Due to the Covid-19 safety guidelines, the consultation events will run as pre-booked 15-minute slots.

Each consultation day will run from 11am to 7pm, except for the event in Cilfynydd, which will run from 3pm to 8pm.

To book a consultation slot, visit twynhywelenergypark.wales or call 02921 679750.

Wind farm to create windfall for community projects

Communities surrounding the wind farm, which will be called Twyn Hywel Energy Park, could receive up to £1m a year in funding for various grassroots projects. At a time when funding for projects is scarce, the wind farm could be transformative for the likes of Senghenydd, Abertridwr and Nelson, as well as Cilfynydd in neighbouring Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Matthew Haughton, project manager at Bute Energy said: “The community benefit fund we propose equates to £7,500 per megawatt of installed capacity, which is significantly greater than the industry standard to date. This could mean an annual fund in the region of £1m to be invested into the local community.

“Our approach of working with communities at this early stage of the development process will help ensure the most sensible, ambitious, and meaningful projects can be identified for such an investment.

“Over the coming months we will be working with community partners to build a framework for delivery of a package of benefits to the communities surrounding the project with the aim of identifying and contributing to community interests. We aim to create a lasting legacy which enhances economic prosperity, creates employment and educational opportunities throughout the lifetime of the project and for future generations.”