npower renewables¹ is proposing to develop the Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm, on grazed moorland approximately 15 kilometres (9 miles) north of Swansea, within the administrative boundary of The City and County of Swansea.

npower renewables is a leading UK renewable energy generator, with over 13 years’ experience in the development and operation of wind farms. With this experience, npower renewables understands the need to fully engage with the communities local to its wind energy projects.

As a key part of its plans to develop the Mynydd y Gwair site, npower renewables is seeking to engage with local people and their elected representatives to ensure that a full and transparent public consultation can take place. The company has already distributed information leaflets to over 20,000 homes in the areas closest to the proposed site, and will be following this mailshot with a series of open exhibitions later this month.

Mark Legerton, project manager for the Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm said, “We are looking forward to the opportunity of introducing the public to our project and are very keen to hear their thoughts and suggestions. Only in this way can we make sure that all issues are identified and properly addressed resulting in the best all round design being submitted for a planning decision.”

Details of the project have not been finalised, however, it is anticipated that the scheme would comprise around 34 wind turbines with a combined installed capacity of around 50 – 70 megawatts. At this size the wind farm would generate enough clean electricity each year to supply the average needs of around 28,000 – 40,000 homes.

The local consultation is taking place in parallel with a wide range of detailed environmental studies on and around the proposed site to assess any possible impacts the project may have on the local environment.

Mark Legerton said, “We hope that as many local people as possible will be able to visit the exhibition being held over three days later this month. Visitors will be able to gather further information about the proposed wind farm and the environmental studies taking place, view computer-generated images to show how the wind farm could look from local viewpoints, and discuss the project, and wind power in general, with npower renewables staff.”

The public exhibitions will be held as follows:

• Friday 20th May 2005 at Felindre Village Hall, Felindre, from 12pm – 8pm
• Saturday 21st May 2005 at Swansea RFC, Bryn Road, Swansea from 12pm – 5pm
• Sunday 22nd May 2005 at ‘the Old Theatre’, Pontardawe Leisure Centre, Parc Ynysderw, Pontardawe, from 11am – 3pm

The proposed site has been chosen for its exceptionally good conditions for a potential wind farm, lying on a large piece of exposed, windy land, with good separation distances from the nearest residential dwellings. The majority of the site also lies within one of the areas (Area E) outlined in the Welsh Assembly Government’s draft renewable energy planning guidance (Technical Advice Note 8) considered most suitable at a strategic level for large-scale wind farms.

The Welsh Assembly Government has set some challenging targets for the expansion of renewable energy, in line with the UK national target of generating 10% of the nation’s electricity from renewable sources by 2010. The Mynydd y Gwair project would make an important contribution towards meeting these targets.

For further information contact:

• Mark Legerton, Project Manager, npower renewables Tel: 01189 59 24 40
• Sara Alan-Smith, PR Officer, npower renewables Tel: 01189 59 24 40
• Matthew Gunther-Bushell or Rene Kinzett, MGB PR Tel: 01792 460 200

Editors Notes

1. npower renewables is a leading UK renewable energy generator and is a specialist subsidiary of one of the UK’s leading integrated energy companies, RWE npower.
   
   RWE npower is a major employer in Wales operating the following plants:
   • Aberthaw Power Station
   • Two Combined Heat and Power plants at Barry and Bridgend
   • Five hydroelectric power stations in North Wales
   • The UK’s first major offshore wind farm, North Hoyle, off the North Wales coast
   • Six onshore wind farms in Wales
   In all, RWE npower’s installed conventional and renewable energy generation in Wales supplies the equivalent of around one-third of Wales’ electricity needs.

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