Llanbadarn Fynydd
Proposal
The Llanbadarn Fynydd wind farm proposal consists of 17 wind turbines located 3km to the north of the village of Llanbadarn Fynydd in Radnorshire, Powys. The proposed site is situated within the Newtown South Strategic Search Area, an area identified by the Welsh Assembly Government as suitable for wind energy development and helping to contribute to welsh renewable energy targets.
Key Points
- Installed Capacity is up to 51MW
- Turbine will have a maximum tip height of 126.5 metres
- The project is anticipated to produce enough renewable electricity for the equivalent of 28,517 local homes*
- The current agricultural use of the site will be maintained
- Views of the wind farm from nearby villages will be limited by the screening effects of trees and local terrain
*Based on an average household consumption of 4700kWh [BWEA]
Background
Initially, Nuon UK first identified the Llanbadarn Fynydd site by utilising industry standard Geographical Information System (GIS) software. Nuon UK created a constraints map which included both environmental and technical constraints. Environmental constraints included, for example, both nationally and internationally designated areas such as National Parks and Special Protection Areas. Technical constraints included the identification of a minimum wind speed threshold for economic viability, exclusion of areas with unacceptably steep slopes, proximity to microwave links and likelihood of interference with Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation Radar.
Simultaneously, in July 2005, the Welsh Assembly Government issued the renewable energy policy document Technical Advice Note (TAN) 8 - Planning for Renewable Energy. This document provides national planning policy guidance for the consideration of renewable energy schemes in Wales that places emphasis upon the development of on-shore wind farms to increase the proportion of renewable energy generated in Wales. This document identifies seven strategic search areas (SSAs) where future wind farm developments should be considered. The SSAs are considered to be relatively unconstrained in terms of environmental sensitivities and also benefit from the availability of existing or planned electrical grid infrastructure. Llanbadarn Fynydd is located within SSA C South Newtown.