Windfarms will wreck our Valley, say residents
Martin Shipton
People living in one of south Wales’ lesser known valleys have condemned multiple windfarm plans they claim will wreck their quality of life.
In a statement sent to Nation.Cymru, five campaigners – identifying themselves as Gwyn Thomas, Jeff and Ann Bonell, Joy Pike and Mel – say the future of the Dulais Valley near Neath will be determined by whether the schemes are granted planning permission or not.
They state: “Rebecca Evans, Wales’ Economy Secretary, intends to speed up planning decisions to achieve [the Welsh Government’s] goal for net zero. She has committed to a sector deal with Wales’s renewable energy industry, which she said will include action to accelerate planning decisions and provide greater clarity.
“As part of this vandalism and madness, the Dulais Valley [the Welsh Government] is in serious danger of becoming a victim of her short sightedness. The Welsh Government (WG) has set out clear criteria in Future Wales 2040 but ministers are hell bent on circumventing these at whatever cost to our communities. They disregard objections raised regarding loss of valuable peat or to the wellbeing of community members.
“In the decision to allow Twyn Howell (a Bute Energy Project), the planning inspector and Rebecca Evans had no hesitation in overriding the concerns over the loss of peat and the significant visual impact of the development on communities.
“Currently, the villages of Crynant and Seven Sisters nestle in a valley where there are two distinct and beautiful mountains which are used regularly by visitors and locals for leisure activities. Hirfynydd is renowned for Sarn Helen, the Roman road which goes from Neath (Nidum) to Coelbren and beyond to Conway in the north. Marchywel is an exceptional landmark visible from miles around, including from Pen-y-Fan to the north and Mumbles Head in the south.”
Hirfynydd Energy Park
The statement says the first proposed development was revealed to the Dulais Valley’s communities in 2022: the 100MW Hirfynydd Energy Park, which will occupy 750 acres, with seven 200 metre high wind turbines, many of which will – it says – destroy valuable peat deposits, and 130 acres of solar panels.
“This EDF development lies outside the agreed WG pre-assessed area but within the Dulais Valley Special Landscape Area as set out in the Neath Port Talbot Local Plan. If the development is granted planning permission, the Special Landscape Area status will disappear and the beauty and tranquillity of Hirfynydd will be destroyed.
“It is an area rich in cultural heritage and biodiversity, and home to a range of endangered species. Plaid Cymru is of the opinion that turbines and solar panels should not occupy sites that provide habitats for endangered species or act as carbon sinks. EDF, owned by the French Government, wishes to construct this Energy Park but has not informed the community of several important features including the revised time-line for the development.
“Two “consultation” or PR events, have been held. To the annoyance of many residents, numerous questions were left unanswered at these meetings. Even the reports on the consultations were distorted with too many positive slants towards EDF. Although 69% of respondents rejected the proposals following the second event, EDF played down this key fact. The final statutory consultation has been delayed several times with no reasonable explanation given as to why.”
Pre-assessed area
The statement goes on to refer to the second development on Mynydd Marchywel, which is being researched by Bute Energy. It lies within the WG Pre-assessed area for Wind Energy.
“According to the WG”, says the statement, “it has modelled the likely impact on landscapes and has found them capable of accommodating developments in an acceptable way. However, there was never any meaningful consultation about pre-assessed areas between the WG and the public. The need to hold very public conversations evaluating the benefits of increased renewable development against landscape impact never happened.
“Bute Energy is a Scottish company financed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) from Denmark, one of Europe’s biggest renewable investors, and the local councils’ Wales Pension Partnership (WPP). This renewable finance company (CIP) has a call option at the point of the start of construction. This means that if they want to buy the site, they can.
“As a private company, Bute Energy’s primary aim is to make money for its shareholders. The power generated is not for Wales. Indeed, there is nothing major in it for Wales. This company is coming in to take what it can. “Stuart George, the managing director of Bute Energy, claims that ‘Wales is primed to lead and benefit from the shift to renewable energy, through significant direct investment, new jobs, and investment in local communities. Our Community Benefit Fund, our skills work, and our innovative approach to working with communities will help us in our mission to keep as much of the investment in Wales as possible.’
“This Bute project is identified on its 18 location-development-Wales map as Tarenni, but has not been disclosed publicly to the local community because Bute is undertaking a scoping exercise and has not made a formal application to PEDW [the Welsh Government’s planning body].
“This massive wind farm will ruin the landscape and devastate the village of Crynant over which it will cast a very dark shadow, and directly contravenes WG Planning Policy 18.
Solar Farm
“The latest development to be proposed within the Dulais Valley is a 25MW, 40-70-acre solar farm at Pen Caer Lan, to the west of Seven Sisters. Based on current information, this project is expected to generate a community fund of only £7500 per annum. exclusively for the local community during its lifetime and is predicted to provide a secure supply of clean energy which is produced but not used locally. This will disappear into the national grid. The company, Greetech Project Holding UK, originates in Hamburg, Germany, and claims that it will deliver significant economic benefits, with a commitment to employing locally, and use the local supply chain during construction and operation, as well as through the provision of annual business rates for Neath Port Talbot County Borough.
“More hollow words to pacify the local community council and the local authority. The truth of the matter is that the site will be managed remotely and most of the materials used will be supplied from abroad.
“Within the Dulais Valley, there are current proposals to build wind projects with a total capacity of 238MW and solar projects with a total capacity of 75MW. Due to the unreliability of wind and solar power, current windfarms operate at around 23% and solar at around 11% of full capacity. Are we expected to tolerate these vast uneconomic developments, which on the surface, appear to be generating vast quantities of electricity? People are being treated with contempt by both the WG, and these companies which are backed by foreign finance.
“Enough is enough.The WG is destroying our countryside for no reason, other than to be the first nation to reach net zero. It has targeted the Valleys unfairly, especially Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taf. It regards communities in these two authorities as easy prey, due to the levels of social deprivation present.
“There has been no serious recognition by the WG of viable and reliable alternatives to wind or solar. Currently. Bristol is proposing to develop off shore wind farms in the Celtic Sea. Does this mean that the likes of Port Talbot and Milford Haven for constructing off shore windfarms are now dead ducks? Has the WG missed yet another boat because of its ineptness? If the WG is so committed to onshore wind development and its so-called reliability, why is it building mini-gas powerplants (e.g. Rhigos near Hirwaun) to back-up the uncertain supply of electricity from wind and solar? Why is it ignoring the consistency of tidal, offshore, and geothermal energy? The movement towards nuclear and hydrogen power is underway, but is still too slow.
“We are not against renewable energy, but the current thrust for continued unreliable onshore wind is unsustainable and irrational. What about the Severn Barrage? If the UK Government can spend billions on HS2, why not invest in the Severn Barrage to provide long-term sustainable renewable energy?
“It would have been, and still is, more economical to develop the Swansea Bay Barrage and other lagoons around the Welsh coast, instead of filling the pockets of foreign companies with constraint payments and profits which should be invested at home.
“With the existing windfarms and the projected wind and solar farms in the northern section of the Dulais Valley and those now being proposed in the south, the villages of the Valley will be engulfed by unacceptable renewable energy projects. Our quality of life will be destroyed forever.”
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…and in about 10 years time they’ll all be buried in land-fill!
They don’t “go into landfill”. They are made off composite materials which are not yet economically viable to recycle (mostly because turbines on the whole are exceeding their 25 year design life) so some are buried separately from landfills so that they can be dug up and recycled when it makes more economical sense to do so, i.e. when more need recycling. It’s not a process that I think should be allowed but it’s wholly different from “chucking them into landfill”. Some turbine blades are just reused as things like bus shelters so it’s simply a matter of corporate will.… Read more »
Matthew – I appreciate your points, really….but you’ve literally stated that they are buried underground – as with landfill.
And that’s where the similarities end. Anything put in a landfill site has next to no chance of ever being recovered. These can. I still think it’s an awful practice and just shows that firms will do anything to avoid doing the right thing if it saves them money, but compared to what fossil fuel companies do day in day out it’s nothing.
Only if your anti recycling, foolish comment again.
I’m just anti Net Zero Karl. I could explain why but I doubt you’re interested.
At least you can stand on that landfill after a very useful life. Try that on nuclear waste.
Fossil fuels, and their by-products, also have a useful life before they get stood on Jeff. Why is that different?
PM2.5
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/emissions-of-air-pollutants/emissions-of-air-pollutants-in-the-uk-particulate-matter-pm10-and-pm25
This is simply a lie perpetuated by right wing “think tanks” and daily mails of this world. Here’s a bit of reality on wind turbine recycling, for those who bother with facts: § Wind turbines USED TO BE buried (because non-biodegradable). Some countries (DE, NL) banned landfilling as the industry grew. To run any viable recycling business you need a steady supply, there weren’t enough of these blades available to process. The same is run for EV batteries, they simply last too long, and then end up as a cheap motor boat upgrade, or home storage. § In the US… Read more »
I read no further than “loss of peat….” Here we have a Government giving free rein to the carpetbaggers riding the wave of enthusiasm for one type of green energy to wreck natural features and landscapes that have taken millenia to mature yet spending grant money to re-create peatlands elsewhere !. There are alternative, possibly greener solutions that could be implemented but our Labour regime is so wedded to wind turbines it can’t think outside that particular box.
For the strong winds we have than offshore wind farms would be the best deal providing the people of Wales own and share the profits through accessible investment trust funds. We can also build a tidal barrier to collect electric power from the sea. ….. And we can invest, own and benefit from this too. Why do we need so much overseas investment ? The main point is that Wales doesn’t even own or control its own coastlines. This is an affront to all citizens of Wales. How can we truly benefit from any project under this regime. We are… Read more »
“wreck natural features and landscapes”?? First- there nothing natural in overgrazed pastures, this land was last natural in 1200s
Second – all renewables, especially wind turbines are TEMPORARY objects placed on 50m2 of land and if needed can be removed. Farmers love them because they provide another stable source of income subsidising food production. Food is being grown, cattle grazes – this isn’t a blooming coal mine.
I agree with you. I admit that I use power therefore I am partially responsible for the need for electricity generation. I can’t help but notice that there are a number of old industrial sites that are now tourist attractions. There are two sides to everything
“Tarenni” was granted a grid connection agreement years ago by NESO, so no surprise this is being proposed
The policy guidelines in Future Wales are way too loosely defined and may as well be replaced with “whatever the minister feels like”
The public consultation on Future Wales was diabolical with only about 300 people responding
We should be installing small module nuclear reactors instead!
No to Nuclear in any form. It is very expensive and is hanging around for Years. Remember Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
Wind turbines across valley mountains will undoubtedly affect local residents’ mental health. Those living in valley communities will see a skyline of wind turbines reminiscent of barbed wire encircling the valley.
.. to keep homes and businesses far away powered up, and all the profits flowing into even more remote bank accounts.
Ok Donald
A message to the people who have voted down my comment. Either you don’t live in the valleys or you don’t have mental health issues.
You don’t have to live in the valleys to suffer from mental health issues.
Would you prefer pylons? Don’t trivialise mental health.
Who put you in charge?
And you’re the voice of authority?
Leave my Fanny alone.
Don’t you like Fanny?
George Formby?
I think they look incredible, especially compared to other forms of generating power. There’s likely going to be some on the hills opposite my home in the next few years, actually looking forward to looking out at them. Each to their own of course.
“Wind turbines are bad for my mental health!” How about getting COPD from pollution? Do you think that will make you happier?
I truly feel for the people of this lovely valley. I am becoming increasingly angry with the drive to “net zero.” It may well be the case that the earth is heating up, but many, and increasingly more scientists have suggested that this is in fact part of long term whether patters – when I was in school there was talk of a new ice age… What really bothers me is – who’s asking the questions? Is the extra power from these windmills actually needed? Does not Wales already produce nearly half as much electricity as we consume? If global… Read more »
And while Europe continues to bankrupt itself in the name of net zero, emissions from China and India continue to grow, and the US is going to let the market decide. And just to rub salt in the wounds, some of the additional emissions from those countries is due to our industry and jobs being relocated to Asia. The closure of Port Talbot and simultaneous opening of a large new blast furnace in Tata Steel’s Kalinganagar plant in India is a good example. While the world population keeps on rising, and the poorer parts of the world aspire to the… Read more »
On one level this is a fair point. Then again, Britain stood alone in the fight against slavery once upon a time. Now it is far less commonplace.
Yes, but at that point in time Britain had the diplomatic strength to pressure other nations into a similar course, and the military strength to patrol the West Coast of Africa and completely disrupt the slave-traders’ business.
In the 21st century Britain and / or Europe have no leverage to encourage or force the big polluters of the world to follow our lead. Hence I think your analogy isn’t particularly relevant. This has been clearly demonstrated in a different context by India and China increasing trade with Russia over the last couple of years.
800,000 years of ice records know better than you
I’m not sure what your point is – I was simply making the point that long term weather forecasts are difficult at best, guesses at worse.
Like it or not, this was a theory in the sixties.
England needs the energy so Wales has the wind farms and solar farms. The next thing will be to build miles of pylons to connect them to England – oh sorry, I mean The National Grid. Nothing ever changes
Has Wales ever imported anything from England? Or is that different?
Money? Over 5000 pound per person on current data.
But in all seriousness, Wales can’t produce 100 percent dispatchable poweron it’s own. We need interconnections with England, Ireland and even Scotland. We especially need power generation from English sources to support high energy users such as Tata.
Wind turbines in a valley sounds strange to me but I’m not an engineer so what do I know? I feel that there are too many people wanting too much for us not to affect nature. What I don’t understand is why the population near these proposed installations don’t get the option of free energy to offset having to live nearby? At least there were some mining companies of old that built houses etc.
It seemed those areas that were scarred by industry are being targeted again. Don’t see similar projects in the Cotswolds or Severn Valley or New Forest. And yes before anyone says , it’s the Welsh Labour Government who are erecting these these wind turbines against the will locals to meet their Net Zero target , or are they, seeing Keir Starmer recently passed a law at Westminster meaning he could overrule those hostile to wind turbines or the devolved nations Parliaments & Assembly if it was advantageous to “Britain” power needs. So I’m not saying Welsh Labour are not behind… Read more »
You are right, wind turbines are less prevalent in England. That is because changes brought in by Cameron gave councils the right to veto based on a single local objection. One of the benefits of devolution is that that didn’t apply in Wales, so we have these things everywhere regardless of the views of local people.
The irony of it all, when you consider that Cymru already produces twice the energy that it needs. All of this destruction of our beautiful uplands, and what for . . . to produce power for England with no payment in return. Colonialism is alive and well in the ‘Land Of Song’. Come on Cwm Dulais, strike up the old song ‘We’ll Keep A Welcome In The Hillsides’!
If you voted for labour, (they said they would resume land based wind farms) you voted for this.
Foreign companies generating electricity using grants from local governments to make huge profit from very expensive power then pay very little or no tax in to the local economy? Makes sense. like a local opencast site have no money left to reinstate the land and environment. when these companies leave in 20 to 60+ years and leave a mess who will pay to clean it up just like coal tips that blight our countryside, that really makes sense for the Welsh and British government. So sensible. Wales is already over producing ” net zero electicity ” and now we have… Read more »
“and now we have to allow other countries to dictate what we must do irrespective to local opinion or wishes.”
I thought Brexit put a stop to that.
It will not spoil your valley.
Such Nimby attitudes would stop all Green power production.
Work with the installers and planners to get the scheme properly set out.
“As a private company, Bute Energy’s primary aim is to make money for its shareholders. ”
Do these people think their oil and gas is supplied by benevolent nonprofit organisations?
Oil and gas companies pay 40% corporation tax plus 38% energy profits levy (the famous windfall tax). Hence 78% of their profit goes to the tax-man and 22% to shareholders. By contrast, Bute Energy and others like them will be given subsidies funded partly by the taxman and partly by your electricity bill. There is a significant difference between the two.
Why are other schemes not looked at? Government are running in one direction only without checking out alternatives and having a mixed bag. It’s the same with cars and heating our homes. There are too many people. More people, more pollution.
It is unfortunate that Welsh Government is doing so little to grow and support indigenous Welsh businesses but is allowing foreign firms to develop with little or no consideration for the impact of projects on Welsh communities. It is hard to understand the justification for rural solar developments when the national grid lacks the infrastructure and capacity to deliver generated energy to market. Small scale urban developments that bypass these limitations make far more sense (to everyone but politicians, it seems). Building solar capacity across Welsh high streets would provide a massive boost to businesses, stripping out a major cost.… Read more »
The power produced, goes to the National Grid, so anything that makes a profit for Westminster, is down to England, not Cymry. So it doesn’t matter how much you destroy us.
“Big aren’t they”, now who said that?
My valley is surrounded by these monsters, we did walks, meetings and protests but to no avail. Also the roads were closed with no notice bringing the parts in, meaning being late for work many times.