Largest Wind Farm in Wales opens.

A Wind Farm in North Wales has been officially opened by the Welsh Government Minister for Climate Change, Julie James.

Clocaenog Forest is located 18 miles from Wrexham, near Denbigh on the Welsh Ministers’ woodland estate. This is the largest onshore wind farm in RWE’s UK fleet, at 96 MW.

The farm cost £118million overall boasts 27 individual turbines and is capable of producing enough renewable electricity to power 63,800 UK homes.

Pandemic

The wind farm was completed in 2020 following 18 months of construction, but only opened this year following the pandemic.

Ms James was joined for the event by local dignitaries, business leaders and representatives from Natural Resources Wales. She said: “It was my pleasure to officially open RWE’s Clocaenog Forest onshore wind farm.

“Onshore wind already accounts for 39 percent of our renewable electricity generation in Wales but we have big ambitions in this sector.

“We have the vision for Wales to become net exporters of renewable energy in a way that supports the economy and retains value in Wales.

“We want to regenerate the industry so that we bring benefits to our communities and create skilled jobs.”

Upon completion in 2020, the RWE’s Clocaenog Forest began delivering a £768,000 annual community investment fund into the local area.

The fund is independently managed by Community and Voluntary Support Conwy (CVSC) on behalf of local communities in Conwy and Denbighshire.

Benefits

It aims to establish a long-lasting legacy by delivering life-changing benefits for the neighbouring communities.

So far, the Clocaenog Forest wind farm fund has invested £1.181m into 96 grants, creating more than 24 jobs and safeguarding a further 62 in the process.

RWE head of onshore development UK & Ireland Cathal Hennessy said: ”RWE ensures that it works closely with local communities throughout the development of renewable projects; to ensure there is a long-lasting benefit from the delivery of its projects to the local area, as well as to the environment.”

Contribution

“Clocaenog will make a significant contribution to this aspiration, while also establishing a positive and enduring legacy for the local community.”

Subsequently, the development and operation of the wind farm has already been a boon to the local area.

On completion of the wind farm, the project began delivering a £768,000 annual community investment fund into the local area.

Welsh Government Minister for Climate Change, Julie James said:

“It was my pleasure to officially open RWE’s Clocaenog Forest onshore wind farm.

“Onshore wind already accounts for 39 percent of our renewable electricity generation in Wales but we have big ambitions in this sector.

“We have the vision for Wales to become net exporters of renewable energy in a way that supports the economy and retains value in Wales.”