Plans to build an up to nine-turbine wind farm on the boundary of Gwynedd and Denbighshire local authority areas have been submitted by Wales’s biggest electricity generator, RWE.
The application, which has been submitted to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) will be considered by Welsh Ministers and includes two 200m tall turbines and seven 180m turbines.
Submission is a major milestone in the development of the Gaerwen Wind Farm and is the culmination of more than five years’ work. The application includes in-depth reports and survey data covering ecology, ornithology, hydrology and noise, plus landscape and visual impacts.
Arfon Edwards, RWE’s Project Manager for Gaerwen Wind Farm, said: “This submission is a significant step towards delivering the Gaerwen Wind Farm, reflecting the time and energy invested in laying out the in detail for how, if fully approved, the project would be constructed and operated.
“Projects like this are key if Wales is to meet its own energy needs through renewable generation within the next decade, particularly as demand is set to rise significantly between now and 2035. In addition, by developing a community benefit package and ensuring the region’s companies can bid for work, we can help secure enduring local economic benefits.”
If approved, the Gaerwen Wind Farm would next work towards a financial investment decision before entering construction and could be operational by 2030.
RWE operates three onshore and three offshore wind farms in Wales as well as five hydroelectric sites. It is developing the Pembroke Net Zero Centre and has a renewables development pipeline that includes onshore wind, solar and battery storage projects, as well as the Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm. RWE employs around 350 staff in Wales across all technologies.
Pictures for media use (credit: RWE) are available at the RWE Media Centre.
