RWE npower renewables has been investigating the potential to build and operate one of Wales' largest wind farms in the north western region of Powys on land at Llanbrynmair Forest, located in TAN 8 Strategic Search Area B.

In December 2008 a section 36 application for the project was submitted to the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

The application follows a wide range of assessments on the site's suitability, and consultation with local people, including a two day public exhibition held in October where community councillors and local residents were given the opportunity to discuss the plans with RWE npower renewables staff.

The Carnedd Wen proposal consists of two distinct elements - a wind farm and a habitat restoration project. The proposal for the wind farm consists of 65 turbines with a capacity of between 2 -3 megawatts (MW), and a maximum tip height of 137 metres.

Natasha Bacon, who has recently taken over from Jacob Hain as project manager for the site, said: "The Carnedd Wen Wind Farm and Habitat Restoration Project is a unique proposal which has the potential to greatly contribute to the need for renewable energy, while at the same time helping to secure the future of the bird populations that inhabit the area."

"Getting to this stage of development is a great achievement for RWE npower renewables. Wind power is an essential part of the Welsh Assembly Governments commitment to tackling climate change and the proposed wind farm would have a generating capacity of between 130 and 195 MW of renewable electricity. With this capacity, a wind farm at Carnedd Wen could meet the average annual electricity needs of between 63,000 and 94,500 homes each year."

"We are proud to be pioneering the first habitat restoration scheme of this size in Wales in conjunction with the wind farm proposal, and hope that the local community will recognise that the scheme presents considerable benefits for both the local and global environment."

RWE npower renewables' planning application is supported by a range of environmental studies, covering all aspects of the proposal. These reports, which run to several hundred pages, are known as the environmental statement, and will be available for public viewing from 9th January 2009.

Powys County Council, who are statutory consultees in the application process, will make copies of the information available for inspection during normal opening times at the Council's Welshpool offices.

Copies of the Environmental Statement on DVD (priced £10) or hard copies (priced £500) and the Non-Technical Summary (free of charge) may be obtained, while stocks last, from RWE npower renewables, Unit 22, Technium, Central Avenue, Baglan Energy Park, Port Talbot, SA12 7AX, 01639 816180 or melanie.david@rwe.com.