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The UK government has foiled the plans of renewables developers including RWE and Vattenfall by refusing permission for four Welsh onshore wind projects totaling 360MW.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change drew a line under an almost three year public inquiry into the proposed windfarms, consenting only to Scottish Power Renewables’ 126MW Llandinam onshore wind repowering project.
The projects which were declined include RWE’s 130-250MW Carnedd Wen project, Vattenfall’s 59.5MW Llanbadarn Fynydd scheme, an application by Fferm Wynt Llaithddu Cyf for its 66.7MW Llaithddu project, and the application by RES UK & Ireland for its 100MW Llanbrynmair scheme.
In addition the government has refused SP Energy Networks’ proposal for a 35km-long 132kV overhead power line from the Landinam windfarm to the Welshpool substation, without which the one successful onshore project could face further struggle, the Renewable UK Cymru said.
In a statement the Welsh arm of the lobby group described the decision to refuse the projects as “a devastating blow” to the business interests of mid-Wales saying it could bring “ruin” to the region.
“Given the blows that the UK government are raining down onto the renewable energy sector on both consents and subsidies, ministers will be heading to the Paris climate discussions with their credibility in tatters,” the group said.
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