Bute Energy consider public feedback over Powys wind farm

Bute Energy has thanked the communities near to their proposed Esgair Galed Energy Park for giving feedback on their plans during the six-week period of non-statutory consultation which ended last week.

The proposed project, which is situated southeast of Machynlleth and south of Llanbrynmair, includes turbines that are 220 metres high and will produce up to 171MW of energy to power the equivalent of up to 179,000 homes.

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Public drop-in sessions were held in Llanbrynmair, Aberhosan and Staylittle between February 19 and 27 to give people the opportunity to view information, talk to the project team and have their say. 

Bute Energy said it will ensure that every piece of feedback is noted and considered as they refine the plans and designs ahead of the next round of public consultation, which they hope will either be later this year or at the beginning of 2025.

Iain Foster, Project Manager at Bute Energy, said: “We had many constructive conversations around people’s questions, concerns and about how the Community Benefit Fund [estimated at £1.2 million annually] could be used to deliver the maximum benefit for the local area, we will focus on this more in the coming months.”

The Esgair Galed Energy Park is classed as a Development of National Significance (DNS). This means that Bute Energy will apply to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), which will make a recommendation to Welsh Ministers, on whether or not to grant planning permission.  Bute Energy expect to finalise and submit a planning application to PEDW in 2025, after thorough public engagement.

At this stage, it is proposed that Esgair Galed will be connected on a wooden pole overhead line.  The connection would route north toward the proposed ‘Bryn Gwyn’ substation near Cefn Coch. Further details of this connection will be brought forward by Green GEN Cymru as part of a separate consultation.