Energy giant RWE has put forth detailed plans for a substantial 60 megawatt wind farm in North Wales, designed to potentially supply power to 70,500 homes. This proposed nine-turbine project, named the Alwen Forest Wind Farm, is strategically located adjacent to the Alwen Reservoir, straddling both Conwy County and Denbighshire local authority areas. Crucially, this development would be connected to the national grid, leveraging its proximity to RWE’s existing Clocaenog Forest wind farm.
The Alwen Forest Wind Farm project, which envisages turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 200 metres, is currently under consideration by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW). A decision by Welsh Government ministers is anticipated next year.
Martin Cole, the project lead for RWE, commented on the progression of the planning stage, noting, “Following our formal pre-application consultation earlier this year, and having carried out and reviewed a significant body of survey data, the proposals for the Alwen Forest Wind Farm are now in the hands of PEDW for validation and then examination. If approved, Alwen Forest will be capable of producing power equivalent to more than half the households in Conwy County, making a significant contribution to Wales and the UK’s goals on renewable energy generation.”
The project also includes a promising local ownership scheme developed in collaboration with Community Energy Wales. Once the project reaches completion, a community organisation will hold a stake in the wind farm, enabling local investment of associated profits for communal benefit. Ben Ferguson, Co-executive Director for Community Energy Wales, remarked, “Shared ownership helps us join the dots between delivering the strategic scale projects society needs to get to net zero, and the delivery of local community energy initiatives which can be so powerful at the grassroots. Local people now have an opportunity to benefit financially from the Alwen Forest project in a way that hasn’t been seen before, and to determine how the returns are invested in the local energy system.”
This project, located within a commercial forestry area managed by Natural Resources Wales, underscores the potential of public-private partnerships in advancing renewable energy initiatives. The land is owned by Welsh Water, adding a layer of complexity and collaboration to the development.
Further underscoring the company’s commitment to renewable energy, RWE is also advancing plans for additional onshore wind farms in Abertillery and Pen March in South Wales, as well as the Gaerwen Wind Farm in North Wales.
Together, these initiatives reflect a concerted effort to enhance sustainable energy infrastructures and contribute significantly to the broader energy goals of Wales and the United Kingdom.
The Alwen Forest Wind Farm represents a significant stride towards achieving renewable energy goals in the region, pending approval from Welsh Government ministers. This initiative not only promises to supply a substantial amount of power but also fosters local community investment and benefits, demonstrating the effective partnership between public entities and private enterprises in pursuing sustainable energy solutions.