Welsh renewable energy developer Bute Energy has revealed plans for a wind project in Wales.
The Moel Chwa Energy Park will have host 12 turbines and a capacity of 80MW.
Located near Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, in Conwy, the project’s machines will have a maximum tip height of 200 metres.
The wind farm will connect to the National Grid at a new substation near Gwyddelwern, approximately 7km away.
The proposed site sits within a Pre-Assessed Area for large-scale onshore wind energy according to the Welsh Government’s National Development Framework, Future Wales: The National Plan 2040.
As the proposed Moel Chwa Energy Park will generate more than 10MW of energy, it is classed as a Development of National Significance.
This means that Bute Energy will apply to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), which will make a recommendation to Welsh Ministers, on whether or not to grant planning permission.
Bute Energy expects to submit a planning application to PEDW in 2024, after thorough public engagement.
As part of the Moel Chwa Energy Park project, a Community Benefit Fund will be established which is anticipated to deliver around £590,000 worth of investment per year locally.
The company’s Community Benefit team is focused on creating pathways for local people to gain employment, ensuring best practice access to its energy parks and working with local schools and community facilities to help reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint.
An initial round of public consultation will run until Sunday 11 June 2023, with public drop-in sessions to allow people to view information and have their say.
Information will be shared with those living near the project, along the grid connection route, and with businesses and other organisations.
In this first round of consultation, Bute Energy would like to hear the local community’s view on its initial proposals.
Bute Energy’s Community Benefit team will be attending the events, focused on identifying local groups and services to engage with now to understand the needs and aspirations of the communities and how the investment can deliver the maximum benefit for the local area.
Project Manager at Bute Energy John Reilly said: “We want to hear the views of local people on our plans, so we can take them into account as we develop the project.
“We also want to hear from local people how we can help support projects and tackle issues in communities around the site – so we can deliver real benefits to local people.”