Mynydd Waun Fawr wind energy project

Mynydd Waun Fawr is a wind farm proposal which is located 3 km south west of Llanerfyl, Powys. The site is within one of seven Strategic Search Areas (SSAs) designated by the Welsh Government for the development of large scale wind energy projects.

Current Status

The project was submitted for planning approval in 2007, with supplementary environmental information provided in 2009 in support of the application. This information was provided to address concerns from environmental groups that demonstrated in the area.

What can the project offer to the area?

It is a company and project priority that we ensure that our investment brings appropriate benefit and opportunity to the region’s economy, environment and communities, and by working with the local community and key stakeholders, we are working to develop a project at Mynydd Waun Fawr that achieves this aim.

As well as contributing to Wales’ targets and aspiration to become self-sufficient in renewable energy, Mynydd Waun Fawr Wind Farm will also provide wider benefits over the 25 year life of the project to the local area.

Local environment

Proposals to support habitats and biodiversity in the area are a key element of our plans.

The long term vision of the project is to maintain and increase biodiversity value of key features on the site, as well as supporting the enhancement of off-site habitats.

Within this overarching vision there are two core priorities - to enhance the local environment to support breeding waders, particularly curlews, and to restore and enhance of bog habitats in the area.

Supporting the local economy

We have been working within the region and more widely in Wales, particularly over the last year, to examine how we can maximise the potential of our project to stimulate economic growth and job creation. Some examples of our work to date include:

• developing a grant support programme for supply chain companies, to ensure that they have the opportunity to develop the skills and accreditations necessary to work in the renewable energy sector
• hosting briefing sessions for local companies to explain the potential opportunities through our projects
• making commitments to ensuring that we look throughout all our processes for opportunities to maximise the value of our investment to the local economy
• looking to secure that the manufacture of as many turbine components as possible in Wales and the UK.

Local communities

We are committed to providing a community benefit package to the host communities for the 25 year life of the project, which would be developed in dialogue with those communities. Each community has its own needs and aspirations, and we will look to develop the most appropriate solution on a project by project basis.

If you have any further queries about Mynydd Waun Fawr wind energy project or want to get involved with our work in Wales, please get in touch. See contact details at the top of the page.