Pen y Cymoedd

Pen y Cymoedd ("Head of the Valleys") is a wind farm located between Neath and Aberdare in south Wales. It opened in 2017.

Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm
CountryWales
Locationbetween Neath and Aberdare in south Wales.
Coordinates51.711°N 3.562°W / 51.711; -3.562
StatusOperational
Commission dateMay 7, 2017 (2017-05-07)
Owner(s)Vattenfall: 100%
Wind farm
TypeOnshore
Hub height89.5 m[1]
Rotor diameter113 and 108 m[2]
Power generation
Units operational76
Make and modelSiemens 3 MW SWP 3.0 direct drive
Nameplate capacity228 MW
Capacity factor30%[3]
Annual net output0.6 TWh
External links
Websitecorporate.vattenfall.co.uk/penycymoedd

History

Development

Natural Resources Wales signed a lease agreement with Vattenfall of Sweden and its British-based subsidiary Vattenfall United Kingdom (formerly Nuon Renewables), to develop what will be the United Kingdom's highest altitude wind farm, on a site owned by Natural Resources Wales, previously the Forestry Commission Wales.[4] The project has seen the installation of 76 turbines with a peak power of 228 MWp, that are planned to operate for 25 years, and to generate up to 0.6 TWh/yr, an amount enough to power up to 140 000 homes with an annual consumption of 4 266 kWh.[5] The turbine manufacturer is Siemens Wind Power.

During the planning process, Vattenfall (at that time: Nuon) agreed to contribute about £1.85m annually to a community fund and to invest £3m in a habitat restoration scheme, and the following parties contributed to the debate:[6]

  • Glyncorrwg Action Group: the wind farm will look down on the village of Glyncorrwg in the Afan Valley. Residents of the village campaigned against the development, which they claim would destroy the character of the landscape.
  • Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales: objected on the grounds of its potential impact on a sensitive peat habitat.
  • Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council: the planning committee decided not to object to the scheme in January 2012, after councillors carried out a site visit, although they set a number of conditions.

The project gained final planning permission in May 2012.[7]

Construction and opening

The first turbine was fully completed in April 2016[8] and began generating electricity in autumn 2016. The final (76th) turbine was installed on 2 March 2017, and the farm has been fully operational since 7 May 2017[9]. The farm was officially opened in September 2017.[10]

References
  1. "Windhoist Turbine Erection Specialists - Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm". 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  2. "Up against the winds - news from Vattenfall". 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  3. "Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project" (PDF). 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  4. "Wind Energy Project Pen y Cymoedd (SSA F)". Forestry Commission. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  5. "Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project" (PDF). 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  6. "Pen y Cymoedd wind farm step nearer after RCT decision". BBC Wales. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  7. "£365m wind farm between Neath and Aberdare backed". BBC Wales. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  8. "PRESS RELEASE: First turbine erected at Wales's largest onshore wind farm". Vattenfall United Kingdom. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  9. "Wales climate change boost as new wind farm hits full power". vattenfall.co.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  10. Pen-y-Cymoedd wind farm officially opens, BBC News (September 26, 2017).
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