npower renewables has been investigating the potential to build and operate one of Wales' largest wind farms in the north western region of Powys on land at Llanbrynmair Forest, located in TAN 8 Strategic Search Area B.
The Carnedd Wen proposal consists of two distinct elements - a wind farm and a habitat restoration project. The proposal for the wind farm consists of 65 turbines with a capacity of between 2 -3 megawatts (MW), and a maximum tip height of 137 metres.
Wind power is an essential part of the Welsh Assembly Governments commitment to tackling climate change and the proposed wind farm has a maximum generating capacity of 130 to 195 MW of renewable electricity. With this capacity, a wind farm at Carnedd Wen could meet the average annual electricity needs of between 63,000 and 94,500 homes each year.
The second element of the Carnedd Wen proposal is a habitat restoration project that has been developed in partnership with leading UK environmental consultants and conservation experts.
Project manager Jacob Hain said:
"The Carnedd Wen Wind Farm and Habitat Restoration Project is a unique proposal which has the potential to greatly contribute to the need for renewable energy, while at the same time helping to secure the future of the bird populations that inhabit the area."
"We are proud to be pioneering the first habitat restoration scheme of this size in Wales in conjunction with the wind farm proposal, and hope that the local community will recognise that the scheme presents considerable benefits for both the local and global environment."
