Green GEN Cymru launches public consultation on Towy Valley pylons

The Green GEN Towy Usk proposal is for a new 132kV double-circuit overhead line, supported on steel pylons, between a substation at the Nant Mithil Energy Park in the Radnor Forest and a new substation on the existing National Grid 400kV transmission line between Carmarthen and Pont Abraham.

It says it will reduce pressure on the existing electricity grid, support green businesses and enable green heating and the roll out of electric vehicles across rural Wales.

Public concerns have been raised over proposals for pylons along the Towy Valley, with a petition, organised by local Plaid Cymru Senedd Members Adam Price and Cefin Campbell, opposing "a corridor of pylons along the valley."

Packed public meetings in Llandovery and Llandeilo have also raised concerns, with some calling for the undergrounding of the electricity cables.

Bute Energy say all feedback received will be carefully considered, along with reports from environmental and technical surveys, ahead of further public consultation.

The company are also asking for suggestions for delivering a Community Benefit Fund to communities on the route.

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

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

An initial round of public consultation will run from Monday 6 March 2023 to Friday 28 April 2023, with public exhibitions and webinars to allow people to have their say.

Information will be shared with those living near the project, as well as with businesses and other organisations on the following dates:.

• Thursday 23 March, 2pm to 7.30pm Montgomery Pavilion, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells LD2 3SY
• Saturday 25 March, 11am to 4pm Llandeilo Fawr Civic Hall, 17 Crescent Road, Llandeilo SA19 6HW
• Tuesday 28 March, 2pm to 7.30pm Penybont District Community Centre, Penybont, nr Llandrindod Wells LD1 5UA
• Wednesday 29 March, 2pm to 7.30pm Llandovery Rugby Club, Church Bank, , Llandovery SA20 0BA
• Thursday 30 March, 2pm to 7.30pm Llandyfaelog Community Hall, Carmarthenshire SA17 5PA

Consultation events will be advertised in the local media and on the project website: www.greengentowyusk.com.

An existing example of the type of pylons Green GEN Cymru are proposing, near Cynwyl Elfed. (Image: Green GEN Cymru / Bute Energy)

Gareth Williams, Grid Director at Bute Energy said: “As a nation we’re in a climate emergency, and a cost-of-living crisis. Our supply of energy is threatened by world events. Yet there is endless potential for renewable energy in Wales – particularly from the wind that blows across our hills and mountains.

“Bute Energy is taking action now to help deliver clean green energy to our homes and businesses by developing the energy network in Wales.

"This will help tackle both the energy crisis and the climate crisis and make sure that local communities can live modern electric lives with less reliance on fossil fuels. It will also help support the Welsh Government’s target for electricity to be 100% renewable by 2035. 

“We know that people have differing views on new infrastructure, and we are committed to doing everything we can to cause the least disturbance to the environment and those who live, work and enjoy recreation close to our proposals.

"We’d urge people to have their say on our plans so that we can develop the best solution for the environment and for communities across Wales."

RenewableUK Cymru’s Director, Jessica Hooper said: “Bute Energy’s expertise in onshore wind will help the renewable energy sector to grow even further. 

"Companies like Bute Energy are at the forefront of Wales and the UK’s world-leading transition to Net Zero, attracting investment and creating highly skilled jobs throughout the country, as well as taking practical action against climate change.

“Grid constraints were identified as a barrier to renewable energy in a ‘Deep Dive’ commissioned by Welsh Government last year and it’s good to see action being taken by a number of our member companies, including Bute Energy, to respond to that.

"We will continue to work with our members, Welsh Government, National Grid, and the distribution network operators to identify and lobby for the anticipatory investment and change that needs to happen to enable renewable energy projects to be deployed at the pace that is required to meet our net zero ambitions here in Wales.”

An existing example of the pylons proposed, near Llandyfaelog. (Image: Bute Energy)

Meanwhile MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Jonathan Edwards has questioned the Secretary of State for Energy Security in the UK Government regarding directing network operators to bury new transmission infrastructure along existing road and rail corridors instead of overhead pylons in areas of natural beauty.

This follows the large amount of correspondence Mr Edwards has received regarding the proposal by Bute Energy to place pylons along the Towy Valley.  

Mr Edwards said: “The transition to electric home heating and transport is going to require substantial investment in the grid in rural areas including increasing transmission capacity.

"The policy questions is how do we achieve that without destroying the beauty of rural areas with metal pylons, which undermines other economic sectors, in particular tourism and leisure.  

"In the correspondence I have received from my constituents since these plans came to light I received very interesting information from former NFU County Chair, Rhys Jones, who made the case that in the United States, electricity transmission companies locate their infrastructure underground along transport corridors such as rail and road.

"The planning process will be a matter for the Welsh Government not the UK Government, however considering the scale of the challenges faced by policy makers to achieve net zero and increase grid resilience, I was interested to see what thinking is happening on a UK Government level.

"Regrettably the answer wasn’t particularly helpful, however these are the kind of considerations that need to be happening at government level.  

"As far as the Towy Valley is concerned, The Heart of Wales Line travels through the centre and therefore offers a potential ideal route for any new transmission cables.

"The A40 Trunk Road is another possible ideal corridor. Some industry insiders in the US argue that undergrounding along existing transport corridors via the use of new technology reduces the cost of undergrounding considerably.

"They argue that with advances in state of the art cable technology, it is possible for underground projects to be on cost parity with traditional overhead, high voltage projects. Developing underground along existing transport corridors also would I suspect minimise opposition to the plans.

"As part of the forthcoming consultation on the plans by Bute Energy and any future planning process I would like to see that these ideas have been given full consideration.”