PUBLIC talks are to be held over plans for new windfarms and wooden pylons carrying the power they generate across the Powys countryside.

Green GEN Cymru, which is part of Bute Energy and is working on a series of windfarms across Powys, is launching a consultation on its Rhiwlas Green Energy Network.

The project will link Bute Energy’s proposed Banc Du and Rhiwlas Energy Parks in Llangurig to another proposed pylon network crossing the Vyrnwy valley, which will link the power to the National Grid.

Gareth Williams, grid director at Bute Energy, said: “We are in a climate emergency and projects such as this will play an important role in connecting clean, green energy to homes and businesses.

“We know that people have different views on new infrastructure like we’re proposing for this project. That is why our consultation, at this early stage, is so important.

“We are keen to hear the views of local communities on the initial work we’ve done to identify our preferred route and to understand whether there is anything else we should consider as we refine our proposals ahead of further technical work, surveys and assessments over the coming weeks and months.”

Wales Farmer: A picture released by the company of how pylons may look in the Powys countrysideA picture released by the company of how pylons may look in the Powys countryside (Image: Green GEN Cymru)

The current proposal is for “a new 132kV overhead line, on wooden poles, between Rhiwlas Energy Park and a new collector substation near Cefn Coch”.

The new line will consists of “wooden ‘H’ poles” and are expected to be between 12 and 14 metres high (39 to 46ft) "depending on topography”. The company says it hopes these “will blend sympathetically into the local landscape, reducing the overall visual impact of the project”.

An underground cable will also link the proposed Banc Du and Rhiwlas Energy Parks to each other.

According to Bute Energy the two Energy Parks have the potential to generate around 145MW of clean, green energy between them – enough to power over 124,000 homes per year.

A public consultation will run from Wednesday November 15  to Wednesday January 10. This includes a series of drop-in sessions along the proposed route corridor to provide more information and speak to the project team. The details for these events are:

•            Thursday 30 November 2023, 2.30pm - 7.30pm: Cefn Coch Inn, Cefn Coch, Welshpool, SY21 0AE

•            Friday 1 December 2023, 2.30pm - 7.30pm: Llangurig Community Centre, Llangurig, Llanidloes, SY18 6SG

•            Tuesday 5 December 2023, 3pm – 8.00pm: Carno Community Centre, Carno, Caersws, SY17 5LH

Members of the public will be able to provide feedback on the proposed corridor, as well as give their views on whether there are any considerations which Green GEN Cymru should take into account as the plans are refined.

Green GEN Cymru is also asking for ideas on areas in the local community that people feel could benefit from investment from its Community Benefit Fund.

New overhead lines of 132kV associated with a devolved generation station are classed as a Development of National Significance (DNS) in Wales.

This means that developers must submit consent applications to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), and decisions are made by Welsh Ministers.