Three sites for 200m high wind turbines powering 350,000 homes revealed by Welsh Government
The plan is to generate enough renewable electricity to meet 70% of what's used in Wales by 2030, rising to 100% by 2035
The Welsh Government-owned Trydan scheme has announced the locations of its first three wind farms
(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service )
The location of three wind farms planned by the Welsh Government has been announced. Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru intends to create 650 construction jobs through the project.
The three new wind farms have the potential to generate enough electricity to power 350,000 Welsh homes' annual average electricity needs
Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, which is wholly owned by the Welsh Government, aims to develop 1GW of new renewable energy generation capacity on Welsh public land by 2040.
The locations of the three proposed sites are:
Clocaenog Dau wind farm, Denbighshire/Conwy
Glyn Cothi wind farm, Carmarthenshire
Carreg Wen wind farm, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Constructing the sites will cost around £500m and in total 67, 6MW wind turbines will be built across the three sites, if approved. The turbines are expected to be around 200m tall.
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The wind farms will be built on the Welsh Government's woodland estate and the Welsh Government's plan is to generate enough renewable electricity to meet 70% of what's used in Wales by 2030, rising to 100% by 2035.
Trydan said these three sites would mean 650 construction jobs over a period of up to two years, and up to 40 direct and 55 indirect jobs over 35 years. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
The plan is for consultation events to take place before planning permission is submitted by mid-2027. Construction, if planning permission is granted, will likely begin in the early 2030s, with energy likely to be generated from 2035.
The maps below remain indicative at this point, which are subject to change through the planning process.
Clocaenog Dau wind farm in Denbighshire and Conwy
A zoom in of the proposed site
(Image: Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru )
Up to 22 wind turbines would be built, generating enough energy for the equivalent of 117,500 Welsh homes.
This scheme would generate 200 construction jobs.
Glyn Cothi wind farm in Carmarthenshire
A closer look
(Image: Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru )
Up to 27 wind turbines would be built here, generating the equivalent of 144,000 Welsh homes. It would create 250 construction jobs and around 15 direct and 20 indirect jobs.
Carreg Wen wind farm in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Indicative plans of the first Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru wind farms in Wales. Carreg Wen site
(Image: Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru )
There would be 18 wind turbines here, with electricity generated the equivalent needed for 96,000 homes.
Further projects at different sites are expected to be announced at a later date.
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In terms of connecting these turbines to the grid, officials have admitted there are grid connections possible at two projects - the scheme in Carmarthenshire and the equivalent in Rhondda Cynon Taf. An application for the Clocaenog would be made later this year.
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