Plans for a 13 turbine wind farm near Cwmbran have been validated by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW). Submitted by British renewable energy company RES, the proposed Mynydd Maen Wind Farm would at capacity generate enough clean electricity for around 55,000 homes.
Having been validated by PEDW the final decision on planning, as a project deemed a development of national significance, will rest with a Welsh Government minister(s). A decision should be made within 36 weeks. If consented it would take around 12 to 18 months for detailed design, discharge of planning conditions and the procurement of equipment and contractors.
RES said its construction, a start date for which would be dependent on a grid connection, would deliver a £26.3m boost for the Welsh economy, with £3.6m injected locally. The site is around one kilometre west of Cwmbran and two east of Newbridge.
It is also predicted to support eight jobs during the operational phase as well as deliver more than £37m in business rates to Caerphilly and Torfaen County Borough Councils over its 35-year operational lifetime.
RES said it would also provide a community benefits package. This could include its local electricity discount scheme which provides an annual discount on the electricity bills of properties closest to participating renewable energy projects.
Graeme Kerr, project manager for RES said “We have spent the last few years proactively engaging with the local community and stakeholders to really understand people’s views on our proposal. The feedback, along with extensive environmental and technical surveys and assessments, has helped to inform and shape the final design for the wind farm.
“Our team has worked hard to ensure the wind farm would sit sensitively within the landscape, whilst avoiding areas of deeper peat and potential archaeological features.
“Furthermore, the wind farm, if consented, could also deliver biodiversity net benefit through measures including restoration and management of dry heath, bracken control, pond creation and improving the condition of wet heath areas, an important habitat for birds and invertebrates.”
The Welsh Government has set targets for Wales to meet the equivalent of 100% of its annual electricity demand from renewable sources by 2035 and to achieve net zero by 2050.