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Construction on a new wind farm, which could generate enough electricity to power 81,000 homes, is set to begin next year.

Twyn Hywel Energy Park will be built by developer Bute Energy on land between Senghenydd, Nelson and Cilfynydd.

The development was approved by the Welsh Government last autumn.

Bute Energy has now confirmed to Caerphilly Observer that work will begin next spring, with a contractor set to be appointed before the end of 2025.

Up to 14 wind turbines are included in the plans, with each one having a maximum blade tip height of 200 metres. It is estimated the wind farm could provide 92.4MW of electricity.

As part of the scheme, a multi-million pound fund will be set up to support a variety of projects in the area.

The Community Benefit Fund is said to be worth more than £30 million over the 40-year life of the project and will be available to local communities, charities and services. In excess of £700,000 a year will be made available.

The fund has previously been described as an “opportunity too good to miss” by local youth worker Dave Brunton, from the Senghenydd Youth Drop-in Centre (SYDIC).

£600m investment

Last week, Bute Energy announced it had received a £600m investment from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) – something First Minister Eluned Morgan hailed as a “real vote of confidence” in the sector.

The investment will see CIP take a minority equity stake in both Bute Energy and its sister company Green GEN Cymru.

However, the investment is not expected to have any impact on the Twyn Hywel project.

Speaking at Senghenydd Community Centre last week when the investment was revealed, Baroness Morgan said: “We are really keen to make sure that we drive forward this renewable energy revolution, but we’ve got to make sure that we get the best for Wales out of it, that we get jobs in our local communities and that the communities see the benefit.

“We’ve got to get this balance right. Here in Senghenydd it has definitely been embraced by the community. We need to make sure that we go forward together, that we land this investment and that we get jobs and opportunities for our communities as a result.”

Catryn Newton, community investment and communications director at Bute Energy, described the £600m investment as “an opportunity to create jobs to boost the local economy and to stimulate growth in Wales”.

Ed Miliband, the UK Government’s energy secretary, also welcomed the investment and said: “Renewable energy will be front and centre of our clean power system.

“Companies like Bute Energy and Green GEN Cymru will deliver the projects the UK needs to bring down energy bills, protect our energy security, and create good jobs for the future.”

‘Their future is bright’

Speaking at the investment announcement event in Senghenydd, Mr Brunton, who has been involved in SYDIC for nearly three decades, said: “I’m really excited about the news today. It really confirms and affirms that there’s going to be investment put into the community.”

He continued: “We need to invest in these youngsters and their futures, so we’ve got to find a way of doing this and I think their future is bright in that respect.

“This is a beginning and not an end. These are the very, very first steps of the community taking control of their own environment.”