Letters of Support for Alwen Forest Wind Farm and Grid Connection

Ynni Cymunedol Cymru has been working with RWE Renewables since 2017, to secure a first for Wales – a community ownership stake in a commercially developed, large-scale wind farm.

The project is now in a formal consultation process as of November 26th 2024, and open to letters of support from the public until January 14th 2025.

We’re asking champions of community energy to send a letter of support to the planning inspectorate, please email PEDW.Infrastructure@gov.wales using the title Alwen Forest Wind Farm and Grid Connection | DNS/3214855

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In your own words, please use the points below to form a letter supporting the Alwen Forest Wind Farm and Grid Connection.

IMPORTANT

• Carbon Savings is a material planning matter according to law. Your letter will be considered if you reference the carbon savings from the project, and that it will contribute to Welsh Government targets for decarbonisation. We strongly recommend that you refer to the expected CO2 emission savings of over 2,640,891 tonnes of CO2 when writing your letter.

OTHER POINTS

1. This is a pioneer project in shared ownership – RWE moved towards meeting the shared ownership policy objective before it was even announced in 2020.
   
2. The shared ownership model is a model that improves parity.
   
3. The opportunity to own up to 15% of the project is a significant move forward towards local ownership and agency and this is in keeping with CEW’s mission.
   
4. The shared ownership offer is credible:
   1.  There is a signed Statement of Understanding,
   2. CEW were resourced by the developer to participate in all of the public meetings in the consultation stages of the project, and run independent public sessions.
   3. An investment entity, Ynni Hiraethog, has been established. Local people will be able to buy a share in Ynni Hiraethog on a ‘one shareholder, one vote’ basis, earning a reasonable return on their shares with the knowledge that any surplus funds will be used for community benefit locally.
   4. This is in addition and separate to the community benefit package offered by RWE.
   5. A co-operation agreement is at an advanced stage of negotiation.
   6. CEW contributed to the writing of the collaborative benefits report.
5. This is a viable business model for community energy in an increasingly difficult energy market for small-scale generation.
   
6. It will contribute to the building of a community asset base in Wales.
   
7. It follows Welsh Government guidance for shared ownership.
   

You can make your letter as long as you want and emit or add to any of the points above. Please remember to reference the carbon savings, as well as your support for shared ownership.

Diolch for supporting.