INVESTMENT IN SOUTH WALES WIND FARM TO GENERATE NEW JOBS AND HELP TO REDUCE ENERGY BILLS

This week Bute Energy are sharing innovative plans for the anticipated new Twyn Hywel Energy Park, located between Caerphilly and Pontypridd. The renewable wind farm development will invest in local training schemes and apprenticeships, offer a community benefit fund worth millions of pounds over the lifetime of the project, and bring down energy bills for people living in Wales. This is the first project in Bute Energy’s pipeline of up to 2000 Mega Watts of renewable wind energy. 

Acting now to power Wales with clean, green energy, the park has the potential to produce up to 92.4MW of wind energy. This is enough to power the equivalent of 81,000 households every year, help displace approximately 5.7 million tonnes of CO2 per year, the equivalent to taking all cars off the road in Caerphilly County Borough Council each year.  

The Twyn Hywel Energy project will also ensure benefits to the public are realised through a significant contribution to:

• An annual community benefit fund in the region of £693,000 (£7,500 per megawatt of installed capacity), more than £30 million over the 45-year operational life. 
• Up to £200,000 per annum towards energy conservation and household support including food banks, warm banks, household energy efficiencies and work with Housing Associations to add value to existing energy efficiency and support programmes. 
• Investment in new green skills locally through developing a programme for delivery of transferable green skills in partnership with local colleges – Coleg y Cymoedd and Coleg Gwent. 
• Designs include the improvement of open public access across the site and the development of onsite recreation opportunities. 
• Improvements to habitats and wildlife including more than 20% Net Gain in Biodiversity on the site surrounding proposals, and Community-led cultural heritage protection and interpretation initiatives.   
• Help achieve Welsh Government Net Zero targets in terms of renewable energy generation

This development comes at a time when people in the UK are living through a climate emergency and a cost-of-living crisis, with the supply of energy being threatened by world events. Onshore wind is now the cheapest means of generating electricity per MWh and with the natural resources available in Wales, Bute Energy is driving forward a vision of a healthier, wealthier Wales that uses energy generation to build a cleaner future for our children. The project will strive to develop sustainable, environmental and recreation initiatives which increase the local and regional value of the site.

“We were overwhelmed by the constructive feedback we have received so far and are excited to be consulting with the community and stakeholders regarding the proposals on the final plans for Twyn Hywel Energy Park. It represents an opportunity for a significant contribution for renewable power generation for Caerphilly, Rhondda, and Wales, as well as a significant package of benefits for the local communities surrounding the site,” said Matthew Haughton, Twyn Hywel Energy Park Project Manager. 

The community benefit fund will support local groups, services, and projects to deliver under its 5 themes of focus – recreation & health, the environment and culture, employability, education, and the cost of living. The community benefit team are working with groups to identify future investment and to utilise the diverse skillset of its workforce, to help support the needs of community partners through its staff volunteering policy. 

Dave Brunton, Senghenydd Youth Drop In Centre Project Manager, said:

“The most important thing for us is that Matthew and Catryn (Community Benefit Fund Director) are listening to our views on how we’d like to evolve and grow as a youth centre. We’ll be working together with Bute Energy to achieve great things for those who attend our youth sessions. Through collective action, it will make a positive impact to the young people living in Senghenydd – and that’s a powerful moment for our community.” 

Bute Energy will be holding in person exhibitions in Senghenydd, Trallwn, Cilfynydd, Nelson, Abertridwr and Llanbradach, along with an online webinar, so that local residents can find out more about the proposals and have a say in the creation of the energy park.  

Come and find out more about the project at one of the Twyn Hywel Energy Park exhibition events this November and December: 

• Online webinar – Thursday 8 December, 6-7pm 
• Senghenydd Community Centre – Wednesday 30 November, 12pm-7.30pm 
• Trallwn Community Centre – Thursday 1 December, 12pm-7.30pm  
• Cilfynydd Community Centre – Friday 2 December, 1pm-4pm  
• Nelson Institute – Monday 5 December, 12pm-7.30pm 
• Nelson Institute – Tuesday 6 December, 12pm-7.30pm 
• Abertridwr YMCA – Wednesday 7 December, 12pm-7.30pm 
• Llanbradach Community Centre – Thursday 8 December, 12pm-7.30pm 

Members of the public have until Monday 9 January 2023 to send in their ideas and feedback to twyn.hywel@bute.energy or call on 02920 023682.

To read more about the project, visit the Bute Energy website. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.