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A Knockout Partnership with Boxing Champion Lauren Price to Support Welsh Communities

We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Olympic Gold Medallist and Unified Welterweight World Champion Lauren Price, a proud native of Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly.

Lauren’s local roots and deep connection to the area surrounding our Twyn Hywel Energy Park makes this collaboration especially meaningful. Our partnership will inform how our Community Benefit Fund—tied to this project—can make the greatest impact in the local area. Lauren is no stranger to overcoming challenges, and we’re here to make sure that, as we develop green energy for Wales, we’re delivering real long-lasting benefits for the communities nearby.

Why Lauren Price?

The Twyn Hywel Energy Park, located near Lauren’s hometown, received approval from the Welsh Government in late 2024 and is projected to be operational by 2027. As part of the collaboration, Lauren will proudly represent Bute Energy on her leisure kit ahead of her highly anticipated fight against Natasha Jonas at London’s Royal Albert Hall on March 7.

At Bute Energy, we respect that every community is different.  Lauren understands the importance of community, and her insights will help ensure our Community Benefit Fund goes exactly where it’s needed.

“I’ve worked hard to get where I am, but I’m also very lucky to have gotten here. Some would say the odds weren’t in my favour, but my family, friends, and the whole community back home in Ystrad Mynach supported my journey every step of the way.  

“I know how important our tight-knit communities are in Wales, but I also know how some communities are less well-off and need that extra bit of support. That’s why I’m proud to announce that this year, I’ll be powered by Bute Energy. I’ve learned loads about how they want to fight climate change by creating green energy from our Welsh windy weather – but more importantly, they want to support communities by offering grant funding, jobs, and skills. Communities like where I was brought up.” 

-Lauren Price

Twyn Hywel Energy Park: Driving Renewable Energy in Wales

Located on the border of Caerphilly County Borough Council and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, the Twyn Hywel Energy Park will provide 92.4MW of clean, renewable energy, enough to power 81,000 homes annually. The development will displace approximately 5.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over its 45-year operational lifespan – the equivalent of taking all the cars off the roads in Caerphilly County Borough Council each year.

Over its lifetime, the project will invest more than £30 million into local communities via the Community Benefit Fund, delivering up to £693,000 annually to support key initiatives that matter most to the people near the energy park. These funds will support local youth projects, improve community facilities, and preserve important heritage sites.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lauren Price to the Bute Energy family. Lauren’s strength, determination, and commitment to her local community make her the perfect partner for us. At Bute Energy, we are not just focused on producing renewable energy but also on making a positive difference in the lives of people in the communities closest to our projects.

“We have the largest community investment team of any renewable energy developer in the UK, and we’re working closely with local charities, services, and clubs to ensure our investments have a meaningful impact. From helping local businesses join our supply chain to engaging with schools and universities to support future jobs in renewables, we’re committed to Wales’ future.

“Having a strong female ambassador like Lauren, who is as passionate about her community as she is about her sport, will inspire women and girls across Wales. Together, we look forward to building a brighter, greener future for generations to come.”

-Catryn Newton, Director of Community Investment and Communications, Bute Energy

Early Examples of Powering Change

Even before construction begins at Twyn Hywel, we’re already working hard to make a difference through early engagement with communities near the park.  This enables us to build relationships ahead of time and gather valuable insight deliver long-lasting benefits for local people.

  • Senghenydd Youth Drop-In Centre (SYDIC): We support this vital local charity, which provides essential services to young people in the area.
  • Newport Dragons’ Community Programme: Our funding is contributing to key community projects like Fit Fed Fun, which offers meals and activities for children in under-resourced areas, and Sporting Memories, a network supporting individuals living with dementia and their carers.
  • Care and Repair Cymru: In partnership with Caerphilly’s team, we helped to deliver energy efficiency support to households with residents aged over 50.
  • Food and Warm Hubs: Through a partnership with Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO), we supported 15 food and warm hubs with winter energy costs.

As part of our volunteering policy, our staff have also volunteered at local initiatives like the Caerphilly Miners Centre and participated in litter picking efforts at Eglwysilan Common alongside Keep Wales Tidy, where part of the energy park will be located.

Click here to find out more about Twyn Hywel Energy Park

Investing in Welsh Jobs and Skills

We believe that renewable energy isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for people. And we’re optimistic about what the future holds. With projects like Twyn Hywel Energy Park, we’re helping to tackle climate change while also investing in Welsh communities, creating jobs, and delivering real value locally.

Our procurement strategy focuses on hiring local businesses to help develop and construct the energy park. We’re asking every contractor to sign up to our Bute Energy Social Value Standard, committing not just to the project but to the community by creating jobs and providing training and apprenticeships for local people.

Having Lauren Price on board is a natural fit for us. Her passion for her home mirrors our own. Together, we’ll inspire the next generation—encouraging women and girls across Wales to see that they, too, can succeed in renewable energy and beyond.

Wales needs 25,000 green jobs by 2050, including planners, project managers and engineers to name just a few of the roles which need filling.

In fact, up to 2,000 of these jobs will be created by Bute Energy’s wind energy projects alone! But who will build, operate and deliver the projects when there is such a skills shortage here in Wales?

The good news is – we believe we can be part of the solution to this big challenge. Bad news is – we don’t have much time to do it.

Check out our Net Zero Skills Strategy
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