EDF Renewables has unveiled plans for an up to 110MW onshore wind farm in Wales.
The Garn Fach project will comprise up to 22 turbines with individual capacity of about 5MW, the company said.
EDF has carried out ecological and other feasibility surveys and today is submitting an environmental scoping report to the Welsh Government and an application to Powys County Council to erect a met mast on site to gather wind speed data.
It aims to submit a planning application at the end of the year.
The company said that Garn Fach will support a £5000 per MW community benefit fund, which could be worth around £550,000 a year – depending on the final capacity.
EDF said the wind farm will also have the potential for local ownership, with opportunities for local people and organisations to invest and have a stake in the project.
EDF Renewables director of development and investments Mark Vyvyan-Robinson said: “Garn Fach would make a positive contribution to our efforts to tackle climate change, as well as delivering benefits to the community.
“We are pleased to be developing Garn Fach in partnership with 14 local farming families and hope that the wind farm will be seen as an asset in the community in our fight to tackle climate change.”
Public Information Days are being held by the EDF project team in communities near to the proposed wind farm site for local people to gain a better understanding of the proposals and provide initial feedback.
Interactive 3D visual software modelling will be available at the exhibition to enable residents to see the effects of the proposed development from different angles and viewpoints.
The planning application for the wind farm will be assessed by the independent planning inspectorate, with a final decision being taken by the Welsh Government.
RenewableUK Cymru Head Rhys Wyn Jones said “It’s great to see plans announced for a project that could make a vital contribution to meeting carbon emission reduction and renewable power targets in Wales, with all the economic benefits investment that onshore wind brings to local economies as well as consumers.
“We’re seeing new market opportunities to bring forward onshore wind projects at different scales but to meet our net zero emissions target at lowest cost, we need to see the new UK government set an energy strategy which supports onshore wind.
“New projects must be allowed to compete for UK government-backed contracts to generate power and we need to update our planning rules so that we can use the latest technology and replace older wind farms with new turbines.
“Welsh government also has a vital role to play in ensuring the planning regime underpinning larger renewable energy developments is fit for a new decade.”