Cefn Croes wind farm
Cefn Croes
Press Release
News from Falck Renewables Ltd
Thursday 16th June 2005
Minister opens major UK wind farm
A wind farm that produces a fifth of the wind power in Wales is officially opened today by Mr Andrew Davies, the Welsh Assembly Government’s Minister for Economic Development and Transport.
The £50 million Cefn Croes wind farm, near Devil’s Bridge in Ceredigion, is the largest onshore wind farm in the UK. It is making a major contribution to the Welsh Assembly Government’s target of obtaining 10 per cent of Wales’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2010.
The opening coincides with the launch of the British Wind Energy Association’s ‘Embrace the Revolution’ campaign – with research showing that three quarters of Welsh people back the need for clean energy from wind power. The campaign aims to give a voice to the silent majority of people who back wind power.
The Cefn Croes wind farm has 39 wind turbines generating a total of 58.5 megawatts of electricity – supplying the equivalent of 42,000 homes. Cefn Croes wind farm is owned by Falck Renewables Limited, a leading European developer of wind projects and a subsidiary of the Falck Group based in Milan. It is operated by Cambrian Wind Energy, a subsidiary of Falck Renewables, and was developed by the Renewable Development Company (RDC). Falck Renewables and RDC are together currently developing over 500MW of wind energy projects in England, Scotland and Wales.
Opening the wind farm, Andrew Davies said, ''The future of energy generation in Wales is dependent on securing the right mix of energy production and ensuring a security and diversity of supply with minimal environmental impact. An increased focus on energy efficiency and a strengthening of renewable energy production are vital if we are to achieve measureable reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, whilst simultaneously supporting the energy needs of a strong and dynamic economy. Wind power is currently the only viable option to provide the bulk of our renewable energy needs, and with excellent wind resources in Wales, sensitively designed wind farms can play an important role in achieving these objectives.
“In saving the emission of 160,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, Cefn Croes represents a significant milestone in the global fight against the effects of climate change. I am delighted that Cefn Croes wind farm is not only delivering clean power to a very large number of people, but will also deliver local ecological improvements and substantial community support as part of the package."
Falck Renewables Ltd managing director Willie Heller added, “From the outset, our aim was to develop the wind farm in an environmentally friendly way and to share benefits with the local community. Through the ambitious Land Management Plan, we are working with partners to improve the ecology of the land surrounding the wind farm, providing suitable habitats for local wildlife and protecting indigenous specious of plants. We have also set up the Cefn Croes Wind Farm Community Trust and will contribute nearly £60,000 annually into the fund which will be administered by Local Trustees.”
Cefn Croes Wind Farm Community Trust Fund trustee John Wall, who lives in Ponterwyd, said, “The Community Trust Fund is a vital part of the scheme as it will deliver tangible benefits in this area. We will use our funds for new initiatives that will benefit the environment and local people for many years to come
GE Energy provided the wind turbines and managed the overall implementation of the project. The project gave on-site employment to more than 100 people during the construction period with four full time and three part time jobs following completion. The land management project aims to restore the site's ecological value lost through commercial forestry and intensive agriculture, while the Community Trust Fund will be used for local projects including promotion of energy efficiency, environmental education, conservation and environmental management, tourism and community development.
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Enquiries to Wynford Emanuel / Rachael Mullins on 029 2055 5505.
For further information on the Embrace the Revolution campaign and the Welsh NOP poll results please contact Alison Hill, Head of Communications, British Wind Energy Association (T: 020 7689 1966/ 07956 859749 or at alison@bwea.com)
Non technical summary for the project (pdf 5 mb)