Norwegians power Welsh windfarm development

Statkraft Windpark in Norway. Photo: Statkraft.

Norwegian utility Statkraft AS and its partner have won a wind power licence in Britain and plan to build a wind farm in Wales within two years, the state-owned company said on Thursday. The firms plan to build the Blaengwen Wind Farm on a range of hills north of the town of Carmarthen in South Wales, about 20 km (12 miles) inland off the west coast.

“The wind farm will consist of 10 wind turbines and a licence has been granted for a total generating capacity of up to 30 MW. The wind farm could be ready within two years,” Statkraft said in a statement.Catamount Cymru Cyf, a 50-50 joint venture between Statkraft and American Catamount Energy Corporation, will own the Blaengwen Wind Farm. Statkraft said the two companies have also applied for licences for a further three wind farms in Britain.

This licence will allow for wind turbines up to 110.5 metres high, measured from the ground to the turbine’s highest point.

“There are two fundamental reasons for us investing so heavily in wind power in the UK — there are good wind conditions here and also the best financial incentive schemes in Northern Europe today,” Statkraft Vice President Ingelise Arntsen said in a statement.

Statkraft has three wind farms in Norway and is one of Europe’s largest renewable energy utilities because of its numerous hydropower plants.

Source: Landgazette.co.uk