South
Wales Consultation
During 2003 and 2004, a 12 month long, major consultation
was undertaken by REP to identify most appropriate sites for wind
power projects in South Wales by assessing their technical viability
and environmental risk. Over twenty sites were consulted on and
over twenty organisations contacted including BBC, CCW, Cadw, MOD,
RSPB, etc.. The Maerdy site had the best environmental risk profile
of the portfolio and was therefore selected for further development.
Welsh
Assembly Government Policy
The Welsh Assembly have targets for 10% of electricity in Wales
to be supplied from renewable source by 2010. The major route to
achieveing this is 800MW of new onshore windpower in Wales. The
Welsh Assembly Government identified that “development
of a few large scale wind farms in carefully located areas offers
the best opportunity to meet the national renewable energy target.”
Following extensive research and consultation over 2 years seven
“Strategic Search Areas” for large windfarms were identified
and these are now included in National
Planning Policy.
One
of these Strategic Search Areas covers certain parts of Rhondda,
Neath and Bridgend County Boroughs. The Maerdy Windfarm site is
located within this area.
Site
Investigation
Following
positive results of the South Wales Consultation, site investigations
were undertaken on the Maerdy Site. These showed that the site had
a number of distinct advantages:
Access
The site can be accessed for construction from the north avoiding
passing through the built up communities of the Rhondda valleys.
Grid
Connection
A electricity substation exists only 1.5km to the south of the site,
reducing the impact of any electricity grid connection. Further
existing line passes close to the site.
Seperation
The windfarm would be over 1km away from the nearest communities,
reducing the risk of any noise issues. As a comparator, the nearest
turbines of the proposed Ferndale windfarm are less than 600m from
housing.
