Caerphilly energy park reaches milestone as Knights Brown appointed to build
Our energy park in Caerphilly, south east Wales has reached a major milestone as we’ve announced our partnership with civil engineering contractor Knights Brown to deliver key infrastructure for the onshore wind project.
Knights Brown, a Bridgend-based firm, has been appointed as Civils Balance of Plant partner on Twyn Hywel Energy Park, responsible for delivering the civil engineering infrastructure required to build the energy park. This includes the design and construction of access tracks, turbine foundations and other essential civil works.
The appointment builds on Knights Brown’s experience delivering complex energy projects across the UK, including major work in the onshore wind sector.
Working with Knights Brown will help deliver long-term benefits for communities and businesses across South Wales. Knights Brown says 90% of the civil engineering contract value will be spent with Welsh businesses, while the project will also support three apprenticeships.
Supporting local communities and businesses
Working with Kights Brown will help deliver long-term benefits for communities and businesses across South Wales.
“We’re delighted to be working with Knights Brown on what is a significant milestone for Bute Energy, Caerphilly, and for Wales.
“Twyn Hywel puts Caerphilly at the forefront of Wales’ mission to generate home-grown, clean energy and bring down energy bills for households and business.
“Wales can benefit from the clean energy mission; and we’re determined to show how. With real opportunities for local people, lasting investment in communities, and long-term opportunities for local business, Twyn Hywel Energy Park represents a transformational opportunity for Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“We’re proud to be working alongside the communities surrounding Twyn Hywel. Together we will deliver long term investment and give the experienced third sector here the tools they need to support the community to thrive.”
-Catryn Newton, Director of Community Investment and Communications
Delivering local value through renewable energy
“We are delighted to be working with Bute Energy on this landmark project. We are fully committed to working collaboratively to ensure the Twyn Hywel Energy Park delivers real value, not just in energy generation, but for local people.
“We look forward to creating local jobs, developing skills, and driving community investment throughout the construction phase.”
–Steve Price, Divisional Director for Energy at Knights Brown
Jobs and economic benefits for South Wales
Independent research by BiGGAR Economics found the project will deliver significant economic benefits across the region.
During construction, the development is expected to support more than 300 jobs, with recruitment support from Big Issue Recruit to maximise opportunities for local people.
The project will also:
- Offer salaries 26% above the Welsh average
- Spend more than 80% of operation and maintenance costs (£108m) with Welsh businesses
- Contribute £1.6 million annually in business rates, totalling £64 million over the project’s 40-year lifespan
Once operational, the energy park will provide a community benefit fund of up to £704,000 per year, supporting local priorities and community-led projects.
Opportunity for businesses and young people
Matthew Tucker from Coleg y Cymoedd and Caerphilly Business Club added:
“This is incredibly welcome news and a significant opportunity for Caerphilly and the wider region.
“We were pleased to see Bute Energy take the time to engage early with local businesses and suppliers, ensuring that the lead contractors are familiar and able to take full advantage of the skills and capacity of local businesses.
“The opportunities for Wales from the clean energy mission can’t be underestimated. There are more announcements like this to come, creating new jobs, new opportunities, and new investment for local people and local businesses. I look forward to seeing the benefits realised for Caerphilly and the wider region now and for the years to come.”
Our Youth Advisory Board member Jess added:
“The clean energy mission is an exciting opportunity for young people growing up in Wales. It’s an industry that’s growing, here for the long term, and is giving young people the opportunity to work and live in our communities, something that seems harder than ever for our generation to achieve.”
Where is Twyn Hywel Energy Park?
The Twyn Hywel project is located 2km north-west of Caerphilly and will include 14 wind turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 200m.
Once operational, the energy park will generate up to 92.4MW of renewable electricity, enough to power around 81,000 homes each year. The project was granted consent by Welsh Ministers in November 2024.
Twyn Hywel Energy Park
Learn more about this brand new energy park we’re building in south east Wales.
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