Wales: Construction of Wales largest onshore wind farm has started

The Siemens turbine, at the east of the Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project site and standing 145 metres tall, is the first of 76 to be erected at the 228MW upper Afan, Cynon, Neath and Rhondda scheme.

Natural Resources Wales, the landowner of the Pen y Cymoedd wind farm site, hailed its partnership with Vattenfall as this important milestone was reached.

Will Wason, Vattenfall’s Project Director for the Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project, said: “There is still some way to go but I’m pleased that Siemens and the team have safely erected the first of 76 wind turbines. As Wales’s largest onshore wind farm, Pen y Cymoedd will have a big impact on annual carbon emissions and help secure home grown energy.”

Charlie Lewis, Natural Resources Wales, Project Support Officer, said: “Natural Resources Wales and Vattenfall have worked closely together to ensure this renewable energy project on the NRW Managed Estate not only benefits the people and economy of Wales, but also has minimum impact on the environment.”

When fully operational, later this year or early 2017, the 76 turbine Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project will, on average, generate enough power every year to meet the equivalent electricity demand of around 140,000 UK households, 10% of homes in Wales. Also, based on Government assessments of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of power produced in 2013, Pen y Cymoedd will prevent the emission of more than 200,000 tonnes of C02 every year.