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Welsh environment minister Hannah Blythyn has officially opened the 57.4MW Brechfa Forest West onshore windfarm near Carmarthen in South Wales.

The £100 million project developed by Innogy features 28 of Senvion’s MM92 turbines – each with a capacity of just over 2MW.

Innogy began construction less than two years ago in November 2016. The windfarm began generating power in January of this year.

“We want to generate enough electricity from renewables in Wales to equate to 70 per cent of the electricity we use by 2030,” said Blythyn. “We are well on the way to this target and electricity generation from renewables in Wales has trebled since 2010.

“Onshore wind developments such as Brechfa Forest have played a major part in this success and to achieve these goals we need more such developments.”

Innogy’s chief operating officer for renewables, Hans Bünting, said: “It is a very proud day for Innogy and marks the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work by many people. It is our first onshore windfarm to be built in Wales for 12 years and has been built by local people using local materials wherever possible.”

He continued: “Over the next two years, we look forward to completing another two onshore wind projects in Wales, Mynydd y Gwair and Clocaenog Forest windfarm, which in addition to Brechfa Forest West windfarm equate to a total investment of around £272 million.”

Innogy has also launched the Brechfa Forest West Community Fund which will invest more than £11 million in the local area over the 25-year life of the windfarm.