Plans lodged for North Wales wind farm capable of powering 52,000 homes
RWE Renewables wants to erect nine turbines up to 200 metres tall on the border of Denbighshire and Gwynedd.
The firm has submitted an application for the 59MW onshore wind farm to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales for determination by Welsh ministers.
The scheme, capable of powering 52,600 homes, would be located on more than 400 acres off the A494 near Glan yr Afon and be operational for 35 years.
The application for Gaerwen Wind Farm includes reports and survey data covering ecology, ornithology, hydrology, and noise, plus landscape and visual impacts.
Subject to approval, the project could be up and running by 2030, according to RWE.
David Bell Planning and LUC are advising RWE on the proposals.
Arfon Edwards, RWE’s project manager for Gaerwen Wind Farm, said: “This submission is a significant step towards delivering the Gaerwen Wind Farm, reflecting the time and energy invested in laying out the in detail for how, if fully approved, the project would be constructed and operated.
“Projects like this are key if Wales is to meet its own energy needs through renewable generation within the next decade, particularly as demand is set to rise significantly between now and 2035.”
He added: “In addition, by developing a community benefit package and ensuring the region’s companies can bid for work, we can help secure enduring local economic benefits.”
RWE already operates three onshore and three offshore wind farms in Wales as well as five hydroelectric sites.
The Gaerwen scheme is roughly half the size of another regional onshore wind farm: Scout Moor II in Rochdale and Rossendale.
Cubico Sustainable Investments is progressing plans for the 17-turbine development, which could generate 100MW of energy and power 77% of all homes across the two boroughs.
Why are continuing to drive this green madness, we cannot ship the energy created by wind around as we have a lacking infrastructure, as such we turn them off when the conditions are not right and pay the owners for turning them off. Why don’t we put the money spent on this green nonsense into the infrastructure and then build the greenwash. Doing it this way is cart before the horse.
By Steve5839
Labour needs to be shown the door as soon as possible. Ed Miliband’s reckless net zero agenda is wreaking havoc on our cherished landscapes, and the public is pushing back. This government will soon discover that by siding with developers over communities, they’ve chosen the wrong path — and it will cost them dearly at the next general election.
By Steve Miller
Amazing to power so many homes for a single site like this.
By Bobw
@Steve5839 green madness? there is the infrastructure in North Wales actually, we have moved on from horse and carts. There are already a number of on and off shore windfalls in North Wales and associated infrastructure which is already helping to ensure energy security and bring down prices as we move away from being so reliant on gas. @Steve Miller, what do you propose instead? a nuclear power station or coal fired power station on this location?. As technology becomes more efficient, more energy is produced with fewer wind turbines with minimal impact on the immediate location. You could remove wind turbines easily in the future, which cant be said for a coal fired or nuclear power station.
By GetItBuilt!
@Steve5839 why can’t we both install the turbines and improve the infrastructure at the same time? Looking at the National Grid live today there is 59.1% wind generation and only 8.4% gas so some of the energy is getting about it seems
By Anonymous
anyone opposed to this just wants their grandchildren to live in an awful country. SO MUCH of our land is green and fully protected from developments.
By Anonymous
Excellent plans, great news.
By Anonymous
Great news. The sooner we ditch fossil fuels the better.
By Clare