Two 130m wind turbines at Oakdale Business Park were officially launched today, June 5, by the Welsh Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Alun Davies AM.
Construction of the first commercial wind energy scheme to be delivered in conjunction with a Welsh local authority was completed in March.
Located on a brownfield site that was formerly a coal mine, the development is a collaboration between Partnerships for Renewables and Caerphilly County Borough Council.
The turbines will generate approximately 10 GWh of energy a year, which is equivalent to the annual energy usage of around 2,400 average homes and hope to avoid approximately 4,400 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
The turbines are located on council owned land and in addition to the rent paid to the council for use of the site, Partnerships for Renewables will provide a community benefit package of £10,000 per year to fund social, economic or environmental projects.
Mr Davies AM said: “Wales is very fortunate to be rich in energy resource. I am determined that we will work innovatively and collaboratively to maximise the long term economic benefits of that resource to Wales and to deliver my ambitions around green growth.”
“The project that I am visiting today shows exactly what can be achieved through positive partnership working and it is also an excellent example of how local communities can directly benefit from renewable energy projects.”
Cllr Ken James, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: “Working with our partners and the wider community we have been able to embrace an alternative, more environmentally friendly way to produce energy.
“We are committed to making the Caerphilly County Borough a greener place to live, work and visit.”
The energy produced by the turbines is currently being fed directly into the National Grid, but discussions are ongoing regarding the possibility of installing a private wire to neighbouring large energy users, either in the existing business park or businesses newly locating to the area.
Stephen Ainger, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Renewables, said: “Onshore wind is not only the cheapest form of renewable energy but can deliver significant economic benefit to local communities, powering local industry and supporting jobs and investment.
“We hope that our Oakdale scheme will act as a beacon for other public/private partnerships, helping Wales to deliver its renewable energy ambitions.”
The turbines are equipped with 50m blades, making them some of the largest in Wales, and a small number of objections were made at the planning stage, claiming the turbines would lower the value of houses and create noise pollution.
I notice oakdale is now famous for electricity pylons and now wind turbines. They are a cinderella town of caerphilly cbc.
Send the next lot to just outside the council offices in penalta or maesycwmmer.
Oakdale miners institute was given to st fagans and oakdale hospital sold for private housing (the housing estate behind oakdale garage is a disgrace) instead of being given back to the miners of the village who paid for them. The toilets were demolished and oakdale hotel is boarded up. They do not need any more poorly planned and constructed houses and need facilities. Shape up caerphilly cbc!
With regard to the production anticipated it would be more helpful to provide the installed capacity, rather than an estimate of annual production. I have been involved with a community wind farm since the 1990’s and our production has varied between 4.3 and 6.1 GWhr during this time. This is because wind speed and duration vary. Also with only two turbines a gearbox failure, or similar, will cut potential production in half until rectified.
I am curious to know what the installed capacity is along with the anticipated availability. Perhaps Caerphilly Observer could find out?
These turbines rarely spin, most of the time they remain motionless. Who’s getting the real benefit of erecting these monstrosities?
If turbines rarely spin they have been installed in the wrong place, I agree that some are.
With regard to the benefit, a non spinning turbine benefits nobody. The owner of the turbine earns money only if they feed electricity into the grid.