The Royal Mint in Llantrisant is investing in its own renewable energy centre.
The coin maker’s integrated green energy centre will include a solar farm, as well as providing wind, hydrogen-ready combined heat and power (CHP) and battery storage technologies.
The centre, which is expected to become operational in autumn 2022, will be delivered by Bridgend-based renewable energy developer firm Infinite following a tendering process.
The Mint’s existing wind turbine which was designed, supplied and built by Infinite, will be form part of the centre. It already supplies up to 10% of the Mint’s energy demand.
The facility has an energy requirement of 25,700 megawatt hours annually. The centre will generate 2,300 hours of solar generated energy with 16,000 from CHP. As well as reducing its emissions the investment will also reduce the Mint’s energy costs.
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Andrew Crossman, director Infinite, said: “The Energy Centre at the Royal Mint is a tremendously exciting and innovative project that pushes the boundaries of decentralised energy generation and microgrid distribution. As a large manufacturing site, the Royal Mint is the perfect candidate site for an integrated energy centre. The generation from low carbon and renewable technologies, distributed via smart microgrid will provide a huge boost to the Royal Mint’s carbon reduction strategy.”
Sarah Bradley, director of HR, safety and environment at the Royal Mint, said: “We are continually looking for ways to be a sustainable business and reduce our carbon impact and be a considerate neighbour to our environment. In 2018 we unveiled a wind turbine on site, and we are pleased to be working with Infinite to build on our commitment to renewable energy.”
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The centre part of the Generation Storage Consumption Supply project (GSCS) and is funded by The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Albion Community Power.
Marco Yu, investment director, Albion Community Power, said: “Albion is thrilled to be bringing its local energy expertise to enable this ‘first of a kind’ project alongside the Infinite team and the Royal Mint. It is an important signpost in how the 海角视频 can achieve net zero emissions, democratise the energy system and support employment in the area. It is a very exciting step forward.”
Welsh Government Minister for Climate Change Julie James said: “This new project at the Royal Mint together with the recent opening of the Energy Centre in Ebbw Vale and other EU-funded local energy schemes which are planned across the South and West Wales are exciting developments and are an important step towards our ambition of a low-carbon future for Wales. They will provide cost-effective, reliable green energy to local businesses and communities.”
Infinite will establish a local community fund with a percentage of the revenue generated by the CHP and solar Farm distributed to local charities and community groups.