Power giant reveals new cable corridor
Green GEN Cymru has launched a new consultation on the proposed Rhiwlas Green Energy Network (Rhiwlas GEN) project, which, they say, will connect clean, green energy to the National Grid and “help rural communities to decarbonise heat, power and transport”.
The project will link Bute Energy’s proposed Banc Du and Rhiwlas Energy Parks to the proposed Green GEN Vyrnwy Frankton renewable energy network, which will then connect it to the National Grid.
Combined, the Energy Parks have the potential to generate around 145MW of clean, green energy between them, enough to power over 124,000 homes per year, according to Bute Energy.
But it won’t please large parts of the local community who are determined to block the plans with Montgomeryshire Against Pylons (MAP) stepping up their efforts.
The existing local electricity network struggles with the capacity to connect new renewables to homes and businesses, and Bute Energy said that its plans will help achieve ambitious Welsh and UK Government targets to generate more renewable energy.
The new proposal is for a 132kV overhead line, on wooden poles, between Rhiwlas Energy Park, south-west of Llanidloes, and a new collector substation near Cefn Coch, proposed as part of Green GEN Cymru’s Vyrnwy-Frankton connection project.
The wooden ‘H’ poles (pictured), which will support the overhead line connection, are anticipated to be approximately 12m-14m high depending on topography. An underground cable will also link the proposed Banc Du and Rhiwlas Energy Parks.
As part of the consultation, Green GEN Cymru has published its preferred route corridor, which has been selected based on initial assessments across a range of factors including potential effects on landscape, the environment and communities.
Local residents are encouraged to get involved and provide their views at this early stage so that Green GEN Cymru can refine its plans to keep disturbance to those who live, work and enjoy recreation near to the proposals to a minimum.
A public consultation will run until Wednesday, January 10, 2024. This includes a series of drop-in sessions along the proposed route corridor to provide more information and speak to the project team.
The details for these events are:
- Thursday 30 November 2023, 2.30pm - 7.30pm: Cefn Coch Inn, Cefn Coch, SY21 0AE
- Friday 1 December 2023, 2.30pm - 7.30pm: Llangurig Community Centre, Llangurig, Llanidloes, SY18 6SG
- Tuesday 5 December 2023, 3pm – 8.00pm: Carno Community Centre, Carno, Caersws, SY17 5LH
Gareth Williams, Grid Director at Bute Energy, said:
“We’re excited to launch the consultation for the Rhiwlas Green Energy Network. We are in a climate emergency and projects such as this will play an important role in connecting clean, green energy to homes and businesses.
“We know that people have different views on new infrastructure like we’re proposing for this project. That is why our consultation, at this early stage, is so important. We are keen to hear the views of local communities on the initial work we’ve done to identify our preferred route and to understand whether there is anything else we should consider as we refine our proposals ahead of further technical work, surveys and assessments over the coming weeks and months.
“Both Welsh and UK Governments have set ambitious targets for renewable energy generation and the reduction of carbon emissions. Earlier this year, a progress report from the Committee on Climate Change, the UK’s independent advisor on tackling climate change, highlighted the need for new energy infrastructure, such as grid upgrades, in Wales to be taken forward at pace. This was supported by a recent report from the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales that called for improved grid provision to meet these targets.
“Projects such as Rhiwlas GEN will help to develop a more resilient energy network in Wales.”
The planning process
New overhead lines of 132kV associated with a devolved generation station are classed as a Development of National Significance (DNS) in Wales. This means that developers must submit consent applications to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), and decisions are made by Welsh Ministers. This consultation period forms the first of several phases of consultation, meaning that local communities and consultees will have several points at which to share their views over coming months before an application is submitted to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).
More information on the project, including contact details and an interactive map of the preferred route corridor, can be found at: www.rhiwlasGEN.wales
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