It’s difficult to imagine a renewable energy installation in a more dramatic and stunning location. Nestled between farms and the domineering range of yr Wyddfa sits a simple, small wooden hut housing a hydro turbine.
There, just outside the village of Llanberis, our co-executive director Leanne Wood met Paula and Keith and a small number of other members of Ynni Padarn Peris.
The group was formed to set up micro hydro energy generation on the Afon Goch. It was installed in 2016, following the launch of a successful community share offer.
The work to build the turbine was sourced locally as were the materials used.
They had their official opening in 2017, at the same time as Ynni Ogwen, who they work closely with in Cyd Ynni - and energy collective set up by three community groups geographically close to each other.
Ynni Padarn Peris have been paying a steady three per cent interest to their share investors since they started generating electricity in 2017. The amount of electricity they generate depends on the rainfall and the dry periods.
Elusen Dyffryn Peris was established in 2019 to distribute the surplus funds (which amounted to £20k for the first two years between 2017 and 2019) to local environmental projects that benefit the local community.
The group also work with the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team who carry out life saving work in the local area. The Rescue Team have an aerial installed at the hydro turbine hut, using the electronics system there and enabling their digital radio system to be more effective.
The group are hoping to develop another hydro scheme in the near future. Elusen Dyffryn Peris are welcoming applications for funding, so if you’re interested in undertaking environmental or other good community work in the Llanberis area, get in touch with them here Elusen Dyffryn Peris
You can contact Ynni Padarn Peris for an informal chat here: Ynni Padarn Peris