Hirfynydd Renewable Energy Park

EDF Renewables UK is planning to develop a renewable energy project in Neath Port Talbot, near to Crynant and Seven Sisters. The project – Hirfynydd Renewable Energy Park – could generate enough green electricity for 37,500 households*.

Project update

We had anticipated holding the pre-application consultation on our draft plans for Hirfynydd Renewable Energy Park by the end of 2023. Due to unavoidable delays, not uncommon with projects of this scale, this has been pushed back by a few months. We now aim to conduct the statutory pre-application consultation in early 2024.

We will then review feedback and aim to submit our planning application to PEDW mid-2024. A decision would be expected from the Welsh Government Minister in 2025.

Meteorological mast

In August 2023 we received consent from Neath Port Talbot Council to temporarily erect an anemometer (meteorological mast) on the site.

The mast will collect wind data (wind speed and direction) that’ll be used to further inform site design and procurement of the wind turbines, erecting a meteorological mast is a standard part of the information gathering process.

The mast will be up to 121.5m in height and has planning permission for 5 years. Installation of the mast is expected in early 2024.

Second public consultation

EDF Renewables UK held a second informal public consultation on its draft plans for Hirfynydd Renewable Energy Park from 3rd – 31st May 2023.

Two drop-in public information days were held during the consultation for residents to meet the team and ask questions, view information about the draft plans including an interactive 3D computerised model, learn more about local benefits and share their views. Feedback was invited from residents during the events and via an online form which was available on this webpage.

We are now reviewing all of the feedback we received during the second consultation. We will produce a feedback report and reflect on what people have said. Thank you to everyone who took the time to take part in our consultation.

The next stage in the planning process is a statutory Pre-application Consultation which we expect to hold later this year.

In the meantime you can view information about the project on the virtual exhibition.

View the virtual exhibition

Although the second informal consultation is now closed, we welcome feedback and enquiries at any time. You can contact us in a number of ways:

• call us 01639 500871
• email us hirfynydd@edf-re.uk

EDF Renewables UK is looking to develop a mix of technologies at the site, including a wind farm of up to seven turbines, a solar farm and battery storage. Having a breadth of technologies increases the amount of energy that can be generated at the site in different weather conditions, with battery storage allowing surplus energy to be stored to provide grid balancing services.

EDF Renewables UK has been carrying out early ecological and other feasibility studies. Two rounds of informal consultation have been held, with events to share information and obtain early feedback from people living locally held in Crynant and Seven Sisters in September and October 2022, and May 2023.

*The proposed Development (up to 50MW wind and up to 50MW solar) will contribute to renewable energy and decarbonisation targets for Wales, as follows:

• Estimated wind annual electricity output of 102,054 Megawatt Hours using a capacity factor of 23.3%¹ ;
• Estimated solar PV electricity output of 46,428 Megawatt Hours using a capacity factor of 10.6%¹ ;
• Total electricity output of 148,482 Megawatt Hours
• Clean electricity generation equivalent to the domestic requirements of 37,500 homes annually²
• Reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of approximately 64,000 tonnes per year³

¹Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES): renewable sources of energy (www.gov.uk), Load factors for renewable electricity generation (DUKES 6.5) –  Onshore wind load factor of 23.3%  (2021) and solar PV load factor of 10.6% (2021).

²Average household consumption from Energy consumption in the UK 2022 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), ECUK 2022: Consumption data Tables, table C9 – Domestic; average consumption (2021) of 3,898 kWh (temperature corrected). Energy consumption in the UK 2022 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

³Based upon BEIS’s “All non renewable fuels” (Coal, oil, gas and other solid fuels, including non renewable waste) emissions statistic of 432 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied in the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2022: Table 5.14 estimated carbon dioxide emissions from electricity supplied, tonnes of CO2 per GWh supplied (published July 2022). Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES): electricity – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Darllen yn Gymraeg

There will be a community fund of £5,000 per MW for wind, and £400 per MW for solar. There will be an element of shared ownership (up to 10%).

• 2021-2022 – ecological and other feasibility surveys carried out
• July 2022 – Hirfynydd Renewable Energy Park proposal announced
• September/October 2022 – Scoping report is submitted to Planning and Environmental Decisions Wales Planning and Environmental Decisions Wales (PEDW)
• September/October 2022 – Public information days are held
• November 2022 – Application to erect a meteorological mast is submitted to Neath Port Talbot County Council
• May 2023 – Second round of informal consultation held
• Early 2024 – Statutory pre-application consultation and publication of the draft Environmental Statement
• Mid 2024 – Submission of the planning application to PEDW
• 2024-25 – Examination of the planning by the independent planning inspector
• 2025 – Decision by the Welsh Government Minister