Renewable energy developer Bute Energy has submitted an application for a development of national significance for the Twyn Hywel Energy Park in Wales.
Located on the border of Caerphilly County Borough Council and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council the energy Park will include up to 14 wind turbines generating 92.4MW.
The project responds to the climate emergency and will help local communities live modern electric lives, while supporting the Welsh Government’s target for electricity to be 100% renewable by 2035, Bute said.
The Twyn Hywel Energy Park will also deliver significant benefits to the local community, including an annual Community Benefit Fund in the region of £693,000 – totalling more than £30m over the up to 45-year operational life of the project, it added.
The Community Benefit Fund will provide local groups, charities and services with funding to sustain their work, create new innovative projects that benefit local people and help organisations combine their expertise with others to build large scale multi-year legacy projects to benefit local communities.
The fund is linked to the Consumer Price Index to allow for economic inflation and to future proof the funding.
Improvements to habitats and support for local wildlife are also included in the application, with the project committed to delivering around 20% Biodiversity Net Benefit to the site through proposals including hedgerow planting and the restoration of degraded bog habitats.
Matthew Haughton, project manager for the Twyn Hywel Energy Park, said: “We’re pleased to have submitted our planning application for the Twyn Hywel Energy Park, which will generate enough clean, green energy to power the equivalent of 81,000 households a year and help displace approximately 5.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, the equivalent to taking all cars off the road in Caerphilly County Borough Council each year.
“The design of the Energy Park has evolved through constructive feedback from the local community and other stakeholders, that has seen a reduction in the number of turbines, and a change in location of some of the turbines, to reduce the impact on nearby communities.
“Twyn Hywel also represents a significant package of benefits for the local community.
“Not only an annual Community Benefit Fund in the region of £693,000 supporting local organisations, groups and service providers, but also the improvement and maintenance of recreation opportunities and other environmental initiatives.”