The title is a nautical reference to wind, and a change of direction, which I’m entitled to use cos I was in the Sea Scouts. Right! And what I’m alluding to will, I hope, become clear before the end.
◊
TWM SIÔN CATI
We start in the wild and beautiful uplands between Lampeter and Llanwrtyd, once home to Thomas Jones, known to us all as Twm Siôn Cati, or Twm Shôn Catti.
In the centre of the map I have pinpointed Bryn Cadwgan; Twm’s cave is to the west, and to the south east we see Ystradffin, where Twm took a fancy to the widowed heiress, Joan, and eventually married her.
Last year I wrote about a plan for wind turbines at nearby Bryn Brawd, which you can see to the north west of the pin. It was in this post, just scroll down to the section ‘Local benefits (well, local to somewhere)’.
A company mentioned in that piece, Awel Newydd Cyf, recently issued 43,659,462 shares. Which suggests there may be something in the wind. (Geddit?)
But I wouldn’t get carried away by the company’s Welsh name, for it’s ultimately owned by Elm Trading Ltd, which has being issuing shares like they’re going out of fashion.
The Elm Trading website tells that a number of its assets are in Wales.
We’re switching our attention to Bryn Cadwgan because another wind farm is planned there, and it should go without saying that the plan comes from yet another gang of foreign investors.
So who is it this time?
◊
GALILEO GREEN ENERGY
This company launched in early 2020, and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Set up with . . .
. . . an initial investment of £190m from its four institutional long-term investors,
These ‘investors’ are all from Australia and New Zealand.
Since then Galileo Green Energy UK seems to have divided into a Scottish operation, now based at 7 – 9 North St. David Street in Edinburgh; and a Welsh operation at C12 Cathedral Road in Cardiff.
Galileo Green Energy Wales was set up in April 2021, and was originally known as GGE Machynlleth Ltd (until 4 June 2021). Why ‘Machynlleth’ should appear in the name is a mystery, seeing as the original address was in Bristol, and the first directors lived in Italy (2), France, and Ireland.
Was the original plan to bless the Dyfi valley with yet another wind farm?
All 10,000 shares for Galileo Green Energy Wales are held by GGE Nordics Ltd, who can now be found at the North St. David Street address. But until January this year was up on the fourth floor of 115 George Street in Edinburgh.
The majority shareholder in GGE Nordics is Empower Renewables Ltd, also of 7 – 9 North St. David Street. When we look at Empower’s UK registration we see that apart from a Dane (who lives in Killarney) all the directors are Irish, with control exercised by Diarmuid Anthony Twomey of Castleknock, Dublin.
Twomey is also a director of Galileo Green Energy Wales Ltd.
At the risk of getting distracted or bogged down . . . another company using the fourth floor at 115 George Street as an address is Vistra Ltd.
I only mention this because Vistra’s main UK office seems to be at 10 Temple Back in Bristol. Which is where Galileo Green Energy Wales started out.
Finally, we need to look at Galileo Energy UK Ltd, formed 18 February 2022, and originally known as Galileo Green Energy Management Services UK Ltd. This company is wholly owned by Galileo Green Energy Gmbh of Zurich.
I bet like me you’re excited by all the Welsh involvement in these projects!
◊
MYNYDD TY-TALWYN ENERGY PARK
“So where are we now?“, you’re wondering. Well, Mynydd Ty-talwyn, or Mynydd Ty Talwyn, is just to the north west of Bridgend. Outlined in red on the map.
Other than Bryn Cadwgan it’s the only Welsh site I’m aware of. Though the website tells us (scroll down to the ‘About Galileo’ section): ”
Mynydd Ty-talwyn Energy Park is one of a pipeline of our new renewable energy projects in development across Wales.
So where are the others?
Never mind that for now, because I want to concentrate on a worrying claim and a serious untruth, on the Mynydd Ty-talwyn website; and I also want to highlight a major drawback with Bryn Cadwgan.
Under ‘Specifications’ ‘Wind’ we read,
Approximately 64,643 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions saved per annum.
We don’t normally see this calculation given, so why do we see it here? One possibility must be that the calculation has been made for the purposes of carbon offsetting.
Just as medieval evil-doers would pay the Church to be forgiven their sins, and carry on sinning, carbon offsetting is a twenty-first century version of the scam.
Immediately below we read, “Up to 50-year lifetime“. If that’s the projected lifespan of the Mynydd Ty-talwyn Energy Park then Galileo must plan to replace the turbines at least once. For few turbines last 20 years.
On the other hand, if Galileo is saying that the turbines they hope to erect at Mynydd Ty-talwyn will last 50 years, then that statement is an outright lie.
Another issue is that Mynydd Ty-talwyn is home to a . . .
Cluster of nationally important medieval house platforms and settlement remains.
The reference comes from a report of March 2021 to Bridgend CBC of scoping work carried out in relation to the application for nearby Y Bryn Energy Park.
And they’re shown clearly on the OS map for the area. Though just one is shown on the map supplied by Galileo (above) there are at least three around Mynydd Ty-talwyn.
We saw Irish control of Empower Renewables Ltd up at North St. David Street, Edinburgh, and Coriolis Energy, the company behind Y Bryn, is also Irish. The other company involved at Y Bryn is ESB UK, the UK face of a further Irish company.
Mynydd Ty-talwyn is not far off the beaten track, but even so, there will be environmental damage caused hauling huge turbine blades and towers to a relatively unspoilt area.
And let’s not forget the vast concrete bases for each turbine, and the access roads gouged out of the earth, the trenches for cables . . . and then there’ll be the pylons . . .
We can take it for granted that the blades and towers will not be manufactured locally, which will probably see them shipped into Swansea docks and then taken along the M4, before the final four or five miles of their journey to the site.
But the problems that’ll be encountered there are nothing compared to what will need to be overcome at Bryn Cadwgan. From Swansea docks the loads can take the M4 west, and then perhaps the A483 up past Llandovery, but then what?
Once you leave the A483 and head for Rhandirmwyn, and the closer you get to Bryn Cadwgan, the more you’ll realise that you’re really out in the sticks.
To reach the site itself, new roads will have to be laid. The environmental damage caused will be immeasurable . . . unless of course those clever people at Galileo can get their calculators out again.
◊
WHO’S WHO AT GALILEO
Let’s start by going back to the main Galileo website. In particular, to the ‘Our People‘ section where, yet again, we see a complete absence of Welsh involvement. Whereas in Scotland, those involved all seem to be Scottish.
Let’s look first at Rob Paul and Joe Winton, both described as ‘Development Manager’. These two are also directors and shareholders of One Wind Renewables Ltd of Truro, a dormant company.
We find these two, along with Simon Edward Coles, at a number of renewables companies. They’ve been knocking around the sector since they were callow youths, and both seem to have started out with Ecotricity.
Next we turn to Leslie Walker, Senior Project Manager. Very interesting, Ms Walker. Here’s her Linkedin page to give you a clue as to where we’re going. (Scroll down to her ‘Interests’.)
On that Linkedin page you’ll see that she works for Dutch company Arcadis Consulting. And has done for over 30 years.
I’d never heard of Arcadis, maybe I should have, because it gets a lot of work in Wales. Much of it from the so-called ‘Welsh Government’.
Here’s an example. A report from just last month about Arcadis working with US company Tetra Tech for the ‘Welsh Government’ on a new bridge at the Prince of Wales dock in Swansea. No mention of Swansea council involvement.
But Cardiff council is mentioned in this piece about Arcadis helping the council develop an electric vehicle strategy. (In conjunction with the local fire brigade?)
Let’s step back to 2017 and find Arcadis working for the ‘Welsh Government’ on strategic transport connections for Dinas Powys.
And talking of transport . . . From November 2020 we have this final scoping report from Arcadis on the Integrated Sustainability Appraisal of the Wales Transport Strategy.
There’s a transport strategy!
Arcadis and the ‘Welsh Government’ are ‘close’. As this piece makes clear.
I’m not for one minute suggesting that Leslie Walker is not good at what she does, but if I was in the position of Galileo, hoping to get approval for major contracts in Wales, I’d be looking for somebody who knew their way around the Bay.
And recruiting Walker might be less controversial than taking on Matt Enoch who, after 13 years as Project Manager and then Project Director with the ‘Welsh Government’, joined Arcadis in October 2019 as Project Director.
I could go higher up the food chain to people like Ingmar Wilhelm, CEO at Galileo Green Energy, but it wouldn’t tell us much more than we already know. We’re dealing with foreign individuals, foreign companies, foreign money.
Our contribution is our country – and most of us don’t even know we’re making it.
◊
FINAL THOUGHTS
Earlier I mentioned that GGE Nordics Ltd, which owns Galileo Green Energy Wales, had been based at 115 George Street, in Edinburgh’s New Town. When I wrote it, I thought to myself, “Jones, that address rings a bell“.
And sure enough, it’s an address I’ve seen in connection with Bute Energy. More specifically, with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), which is investing in Bute’s Welsh projects. I wrote about here.
Bute is a Scottish company that’s appeared on this blog many times. It has insane plans to turn our country into a vast open-air electricity generator for England. And like Galileo, Bute employs people familiar with the denizens of the Swamp.
The connection between Bute and Galileo seems to be by association, via CIP. Then again, the link could be Vistra, with companies using it as their address. Which might explain the original Bristol address for Galileo Green Energy Wales.
Food for thought.
We may have missed the public meetings for Mynydd Ty-talwyn, but those for Bryn Cadwgan are being held next week; Llanddewi Brefi on Wednesday, and Pumsaint on Thursday.
I suggest that people turn up to these meetings and demand answers to all sorts of questions. Here’s what I might ask . . .
- How much environmental damage will be done transporting the turbines to and and erecting them at Bryn Cadwgan?
- Where are Galileo’s other Welsh projects?
- How many local jobs will be provided at Bryn Cadwgan?
- Is Galileo claiming that wind turbines last for 50 years?
- How much of Galileo’s business model is carbon offset ‘greenwashing’?
- Is there any connection between Galileo Green Energy and Bute Energy?
And finally, always remember! wind turbines are not built to save the planet. They’re built to make a few people a lot of money, and to make our lives more difficult through an increasingly expensive and unreliable electricity supply.
♦ end ♦
© Royston Jones 2023
So was I in the Sea Scouts 24th Westley. Don Cartwright
Yes. But wasn’t his name Cartlidge? I seem to think he lived in Pleasant Street, opposite the BBC.
It is so sad that in all of Wales
only half a dozen are protesting
about these awful proposals to
desecrate iconic scenery north of
Rhandirmwyn. I’ve just scribbled this.
Sacred Mountains
Many nations have Sacred Mountains
they spill up like holy dry fountains.
They belong to First Nation people.
Spiritual a beacon steeple.
Uluru is Ayers Alice Springs
Adam’s Peak Sri Lanka hosts pilgrims
Ararat the harbour of the Ark
Olympus Zeus’ mythical spark.
Kailash of Tibetan purity
Sinai’s ten commands of Deity
Agung has its high Temple Bali
Fuji home of sacred Samuri.
Cymru has no sacred hill top rite
Just an annual canvas tent site.
This eases the path for flash ‘green’ men
to destroy our land without ‘amen’ .
Ioan ap Trefor ab Enoch.
Da iawn! Excellent Ioan, what a Welsh bard!
As Churchill said: ‘ We shall fight them on our fields; and hills. We shall never surrender!
Better still – “we shall fight them in their homes when we find them and they will live to regret intruding our tranquility”.
Our people own much of this land but that only represents part of the longer term, maybe eternal bond between a people and the land of which they have custody while they live on it.
If it helps, Shropshire County council just refused a solar park proposed by Vattenfall for a 22 MW array to the south of Hall Lane, Kemberton, near Telford. They said it would force the closure of an organic dairy farm and had received 133 objections. Its gone to appeal.
It is part of the green belt west of Wolverhampton so different circumstances but all ammo we can use I guess.
We live at Cilycwm, and share the views and comments posted here. We aren’t going to the drop in..We have already sent a long list of questions to Galileo..which cover most of the points raised here. Doubt we’ll get a full response though. If Jason wants a copy please let him have my email address.. not sure how your secure system works
At the moment I’m pushing on to get the next piece ready for the morning. Popping out this afternoon and football tonight means that time is short.
However, there will definitely be a follow-up after the drop-ins. So send anything you have to editor@jacothenorth.net.
Have passed your e-mail address on to Jason.
Who are the Swans playing tonight Jac?
Back in the eighties, I used to go to the Vetch and watch the Swans play. They were awsome then because it was the ‘Tosh’ years. The ‘Double Decker’ was more fun being in than on a rollercoaster!
Swans aren’t playing. It’s the Champions League tonight. I shall probably watch AC v PSG.
I’m an old North Banker from the 60s. (No, that is not rhyming slang.) I was there at Anfield when we beat Liverpool in the FA Cup sixth round. Went everywhere. I even remember going to a pre-season friendly in Cheltenham. Got caught up in a big fight in an Irish pub. Nothing to do with us and we managed to escape unharmed. I think we won 4 – 0.
Then I tended to drift to rugby. Spent a lot of time down St Helens watching the Whites. Then I moved, my son started following the Swans and he re-awakened my interest in the early ’90s.
Hi Jac,
I emailed Stella and I have emailed you with my huge list of questions for Galileo, it needs proof reading but feel free to post if you think its appropriate.
Jason
There are Pine Martens and red squirrels on the land that is proposed for Bryn Cadwgan, can we use that? Regular visitors to my land, pole cats as well. It is stated as the reason that the Shropshire/Welsh marches are being protected to day on the BBC.
I can use that. Somebody’ll probably say that pine martens and red squirrels will be happy climbing wind turbines and pylons.
The pine Martens were deliberately introduced a few years back to kill the greys and allow the reds to flourish. I cant remember the name of the project but will dig it out.
We also have two breeding maternity colonies of soprano pipistrelle bats on my land, they will love the sonic signature of wind turbines of course.
We live in Cilycwm; we won’t be going to the ‘drop in’ at Pumpsaint but have sent a list of questions for Galileo to answer. They raise some of the points mentioned on here, which had already occurred to us. If you email me, I’ll foward a copy to you.
We are told that they tried to build Bryn Cadwgan about 10 years ago and failed. Does anyone know why or how to find out? Maybe we could use the same defense?
That is true. Sir David Lewis ( Past Lord Mayor of London) stepped in and formed an objection group, with him as chairman. He met up with various affiliated groups which could be involved with the project – bearing in mind that the project was at a very infant stage. He was said, at that time, to have met with the chief executive of the National Trust in the UK to explain things. Everything went quiet after!
Without the Pumsaint access there is no way on earth these machines will find a way up to the Cambrians southern end.
The NT hold the golden key! They have traded that key for currency.
Hi Eifion, how do we contact him?
He knows everything that I know that goes on. Like a valuable piece of china, he needs to be handed with care.
Odd innit that a London Welshman showed more interest in protecting his mother country than a bunch of self obsessed morons making a cushy living within the Bay Bubble.
I can enlighten you on the route that Galileo, Bute and Belltower are intending to use to transport these humongous machines.
Having reached Carmarthen, they (I mean three firms, and three projects) they then take the A40 to Llandeilo. Then the vandalism begins! Just a few yards up the A40 at Llandeilo, there is a left turn for Talley . These firms have already bought many – if not all land owners where the bends, impediments etc are located. This stretch of road from Llandeilo to The Bridgend Inn on the A482 is extremely bendy and narrow all along the 10 mile route. Having secured an easement for airspace at the Bridgend, they now head down the A482 to Pumsaint where they turn right at Pumsaint and head for the hills!
This is where it gets interesting. For some six miles they will go up a forestry track, which is owned by the National Trust, who inherited the Dolaucothi estate ( Roman Goldmines as part) The NT have sold their soul on this one, for they could have stopped this barbaric vandalism instantly!
Then having threaded their way up the track, Bute ( Blaencothi Energy Park – not yet shown their face) Bryncadwgan (Galileo) and Belltower (Maenllwyd – above Llanddewi Brefi) will have nearly reached nirvana! They will be then on the plateau which is the unspoilt southern end of the Cambrian Mountain range – the spine of ‘little Wales’.
Druan a Gymru Fach!
Thanks for that. I guess that adds up to 10’s of £millions of roadworks much of which will be funded by the Bay Bubble regime despite their persistent negative stance over essential road improvements elsewhere in Wales. Where is the Opposition when they are needed ? Of course most of them are useless Tories too loyal to the diktats of London and their masters. Plaid is too wedded to the Green gospels ( whichever version in currently fashionable) to raise any kind of objection. Indeed most of those Wanchors would gleefully cover rural Wales in turbines and import exotic vegan foods from far off countries just to prevent a few livestock from farting. The nutters are well and truly in control !
It’s not clear how all these additional off-site associated infrastructure costs are being assessed and justified. Are off-site costs and on-site costs taken into consideration in any appraisal? As you say Dafis, do the costs fall on developers or the taxpayer or both.
Copy below of my enquiry to Welsh Government for your information.
Customer Contact Centre
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
My Ref: NCC/WJ/108
Your Ref:
Date: 5 November 2023
Dear Customer Contact Team
Subject: Wind Energy Projects – Off-site infrastructure costs
Major wind energy projects in Wales – classified as Developments of National Significance [DNS] – will inevitably require improvements to off-site infrastructure. For example, road widening schemes and new bridge construction over watercourses to enable materials, including turbine blades, to be transported to the development site.
Consequently, I would be pleased to receive clarification regarding the points listed below.
I look forward to receiving clarification from your Energy Division at their convenience. Thank you.
Yours sincerely
As ever a well crafted letter which will demand the best evasive efforts from “obedient servants” down the Bay. Their responses that you have shared in the past reveals the contempt in which they hold the public that pays their salaries and pensions.
Good letter, I will look forward to reading the reply. It would be interesting to calculate the ‘Carbon Footprint’ of removing all those hedges and trees and bringing in all the concrete, tarmac, etc. to make it a heavy truck access road. Play them at their own game. Not to mention the destruction of habitat for countless birds, insects and animals just on the access roads alone.
Thanks for that, Eifion, I didn’t realise Galileo is co-operating with Bute and Belltown.
Though I was aware of the Bute project at Blaencothi, a company was set up a couple of years ago.
They are using the same route from Llandeilo to Pumsaint, and then a sharp right up the track owned by the woke National Trust.
You mentioned before their (NT) deal with Natural Resources Wales about the running of the Hafod Estate, near Devils Bridge, Ceredigion. In the NTs puff at describing Hafod – being in the Cambrian range) as one of the most picturesque and unspoilt uplands in Europe! Hear hear, I say!
The Hafod and Dolaucothi Estates were owned by the same family:The Johnes.If you read Peacocks in Paradise, then you’ll see.
Back to turbines. After turning off the tarmac roads the cargo will go on NTs ground and up the forestry track where the conifers are owned by NRW – another partnership.between the axis of destruction.
So my bemusement with the NT is: why do they not practice what the preach? They claim to preserve natural heritage for the continent – and more. So what has posessed them to open the door to the destruction of rural Wales and the Cambrian Mountains ( spine of Wales? with these gargantuan machines?
Has the ‘love of money’ trumped duty at the NT?
Yes, I wrote about the Hafod estate, but I never anticipated the NT getting involved with something as ugly and mercenary as this. Belltown are based in Bristol. If I’m not mistaken there was a Bristol connection at Hafod, or NT.
Will have to re-visit this and try to join up the dots.
It is. The National Trust own the land and houses on both sides. There is no need to remove the houses for there is plenty of ground to accomadate the tight right turn. They must have sold the easment to that ground
Is this the turn-off in Pumsaint you’re referring to?
No. It is off the A482 in the village itself. As soo as you cross the river Cothi on the 482 turn right
Sorry Yes! That is it. You are looking up the track in that clip
Are you sure that Belltown, Bute, and Galileo are co-operating?
Sorry to butt in on this flow of info. The sharing of access routes might originate at a desk within the Bay Regime who could be looking for some economies when cobbling this campaign together. That last site mentioned by EEvans could be Bryn Brawd discussed in earlier exchanges. It is definitely in the same broad area and I can imagine some energy (no pun) going into designing a singular access artery with spurs running off it. It follows that the Bay regime would encourage cooperation on this. It begs questions on what else might they collaborate with Bay backing?
You’re right. Bryn Brawd has been re-named Waun Maenllwyd.
I cannot be 100% sure because they give nothing away. But all three of them are using the same route 100%. A firm called Grasshopper Communication is giving the drop in display on thursday aftnoon, on behalf of Galileo. On wednesday Grasshopper are doing the same at Llanddewi Village Hall, but for Belltown. They are representing both parties, that I know. I am chairman of Pumsaint Coronation Hall Committee, so I will try and use my position to get more cast iron info if you wish. These firms are only now coming out, so all rather sketchy. One thing that I’m rather uneasy about is why have Bute not shown their face yet. Bute holds the key for Galileo because they are the ones concerned with the pylons at the Towy Valley. No transmission line , no turbines! However the Belltown 6 are to be connected at Lampeter.
Hi Jac,
I live under the proposed Bryn Cadwgan engergy park, 750 foot tall turbines will loom over the mountain in front of my home and the SSI bird reserve between us if this goes ahead. not to mention the Neolithic standing stones and stone circles in the forest they will have to demolish to build it. How they will get such large parts in and such large amounts of electricity out is a good question. Total tear up of pristine wilderness, for the profit of a foreign owned company supported by UK tax credits and grants. Lets take UK tax payers money and use it to destroy the UK environment in the name of ‘saving the planet’ and then let some foreign billionaires take the profit and all the benefit!
Sacrilege in my eyes.
The fight is on and I have an MSc in Environmental Pollution Control Engineering if they want to question my understanding of the ‘science.’
Go for it!
Hi, to anyone else living in the new “energy park” I live at the heart of it, sparsely populated it is. I see nothing but hills from my place, but the plan is going to offer me a view of turbines in every direction. I would be very interested to get together with anyone (other than the proposers, Galileo, to talk about this and how to deal with it. tim@interplay.me.uk
Hi Tim, lets join forces, I have sent you an email. We can stop this.
Jason
Where exactly do you live then?
At the confluence of the dothie and psygotir, right underneath the damn thing
Will that be the Bryncadwgan or the Waun maenllwyd project by you? How close is the nearest machine to your place?
Bryn Cadwgan is the one we are closest to, Just West of Llyn Brianne. There is a show and tell by Galileo in Pumsaint on Thursday to see detailed plans. However, I appose them all, this is not the way forward by any measure,
Beautiful place, well away from all the man made noises that bugger up people’s minds in big cities. Except maybe you get low flying RAF craft screeching overhead. Now these carpetbaggers want to trash the whole area with a long winded civils project for access and services followed by construction of turbine towers and long term operational disturbances.
I wonder where some of these bandits live ? Maybe emptying a big muck spreader outside their homes might wake them up to the fact that pollution comes in many shapes and forms.
we need to start a group
I have people my end primed and ready to go! We are waiting for Thursday first to see and hear what tripe they have to say. Come along to the exhibition, I will be there at five. We’ll go from there.
See you there, I want to see a detailed map and take it form there, a copy of the environmental impact assessment would be good as well as detailed planning from the council. Just the haul road alone should be enough to stop this.
I’m grateful to you for flagging the link to the new bridge proposed to Prince of Wales Dock in Swansea. There has been total silence as to how this represents the death knell of the original Waterfront Development project by the old WDA. The access originally proposed to the dock for a new marina in it was through the old tidal basin which was its original entrance before King’s Dock was opened and this channel remains on the plans on the hoardings advertising the area. Unfortunately when the WDA was abolished, the Assembly purloined the money set aside for it and spent it on a project in Cardiff. In its absence, the construction of the proposed bridge will cut off Prince of Wales Dock from its only existing maritime entrance so that it will be impossible for a dredger to access it and it will slowly silt up. Perhaps it is a suitable symbol of the way that the Assembly treats Swansea.
I’ve stayed in the Premier Inn a few times and it’s depressing looking out on the empty dock. Businesses were enticed to set up there on the promise of the PoW dock becoming a marina. The site to the east of the hotel has never been developed. I’m sure it would have been if the promise had been kept.
With that channel from the King’s Dock filled in for a fixed bridge the tidal basin serves no purpose. So it, along with the dock it served, will probably be filled in. But if a new fixed bridge is put there, does that suggest that there will be some development on the south side of the dock?
There is currently an application for 108 residential units (a mixture of houses and flats) on the South East corner of the dock although the plans envisage access to Langdon Road on the north side rather than over the proposed bridge. At one time the area to the east of the dock was thought to be for more land for Trinity St David’s (and the bridge would serve as a link with the buildings constructed in the last few years), but there seem to be no immediate plans at present. The tidal basin was excavated and renovated a few years ago but, apart from a tidal underground culvert, it is entirely landlocked, as effectively will be the dock itself if the bridge is built.
It doesn’t seem to make much sense. Is there a grand design or it just different little plans being implemented piecemeal with no regard to any bigger picture?
Since the WDA was so shamefully abolished, it seems to be entirely random and piecemeal. Of course having had all the money taken away has unsurprisingly had its effect.
As the Chief Executive of the WDA was reported to have said to Rhodri Morgan, when the latter (in a fit of pique because of his inability to direct the Agency to unlawfully spend money in an “EU non-assisted area” ie his wife’s constituency in Cardiff), “Congratulations First Minister, you have just ruined the economy of Wales.”
Under the WDA, Wales was achieving 22% of the UK’s inward investment…..since the scrapping of the WDA in 2006, and today, that figure is 2%.
I never had the measure of Rhodri Morgan. He had an abundance of academic qualifications even if he affected the persona of “one of the workers”. In theory , he could have been a fine leader but in practice he was poor, no more so than with the WDA fiasco. Blair only promoted him to be FM on sufferance. They were both Opposition shadow ministers in the same Department under Neil Kinnock so he had an opportunity to assess him closely and obviously found him wanting. Of course Drakeford is so dire that all his predecessors now seem bathed in golden light in retrospect.
Rhodri was a crafty old politician. I was present on many occasions (Eisteddfods, community centres, “official openings” etc.) and he always mentioned “a second cousin who lived locally, usually above the chip shop.”. He must have has many second cousins, all over Wales…..but the little old ladies in his audiences just lapped it all up, and voted Labour.
Mynydd Ty Talwyn Energy Park is outside the 10 pre-assessed areas outlined in policy 17 of Welsh Government Future Wales National Plan 2040. So presumably – from a planning perspective – there is not a presumption in favour of development. The 10 areas are indicated on attached image below.
That would be logical, but doesn’t policy 18 allow them anywhere providing they meet certain criteria (which also apply to policy 17)
Other than designated landscapes EVERYWHERE is fair game I’m afraid
Wynne’s right that the area in question is only earmarked for solar; but the Mynydd Ty-talwyn project is an ‘Energy Park’ which, in addition to the wind turbines, is planned to have solar panels and a BESS.
Whereas policy 17 has a presumption in favour of wind in pre assessed areas subject to the criteria in policy 18 …
…policy 18 allows any renewable technology outside the pre assessed areas …
… so the concept of pre assessed areas is effectively meaningless, as for wind it’s the same criteria both inside and outside the areas
Bute have ignored the “pre assessed boundary” for Twyn Hywel with part in and part outside
WG has bent over backwards to facilitate the exploitation of Wales by foreign energy companies. Seeing as few if any onshore wind farms are going up in England yet there are targets to be met, I can’t help if pressure has been applied from London.
But Drakeford and his virtue-signalling, planet-saving crew would be delighted to oblige.
I’ve heard from others about pressure being applied from London, but not sure who has said what or when. Apologies if you’ve covered this before. There doesn’t seem to be much support for onshore wind in Wales from the current bunch of Welsh Tories, but the landowners can’t seem to get enough of it (admittedly that’s sometimes the Welsh Government)
I note the following statement in policy 17.
“Proposals should describe the net benefits the scheme will bring in terms of social, economic, environmental and cultural improvements to local communities”.
It will be interesting to see what “cultural” improvement benefits local communities will experience. With regard to “economic” benefit, does that not suggest a benefit v cost appraisal will be required which nobody appears to be undertaking at any stage of the process.
Oh boy, yet another carpetbagging crew out to gouge profit and leave a distressed, disfigured countryside in their wake. These forays are gathering momentum. Is it a case that the funding will expire and these scams will no longer provide scope for a fast buck paid out like a guaranteed income plan with grants and freebies up front ? It looks like the pot might dry up. Local governments in lots of authorities are going bust, others are at risk. Pretty soon national governments of the more profligate type will follow suit. UK Gov is one of those to be followed by its little subsidiaries in Wales and Scotland.
Big business in UK and EU, having made life difficult for smaller businesses, is also struggling internationally. They have forgotten how to trade profitably by making and selling goods that people want or need. Instead they have climbed onto the public funds roller coaster, first created by military and defence contractors, then the “blue light” sectors and now anything and everything that Government wants. And Government has wanted its silly paws on anything it can interfere with even though it hasn’t a clue what it confronts.
So this looks and smells like the last mad rush. An open range like the southern half of Elenydd is very attractive. It is sparsely populated and to the greedy pigs who seek a trough that means a licence to carve it up for their gain. There are probably other areas of land elsewhere in the UK that will be viewed in the same way. Nearer home how much of the northern half of Elenydd is being targetted, how long before the dopes down the Bay contrive to ease the rules on National Parks and turn Y Bannau into long arrays of wind turbines?
I hope you’re right about the “last mad rush“. There are certainly signs that wind power is being found out, and asking for even bigger subsidies doesn’t do their case any good. A cold winter with power cuts could finish them off. Unfortunately, such conditions will also take a lot of those who rely on electricity for heating and cooking.
As far as I know such developments are grant and freebie free, although they will almost certainly sign up for a CfD which isn’t really a subsidy, just a fixed price for 15 years. These come from Westminster not Cardiff. I don’t know that the Senedd can do anything to encourage them other than pass planning permission
What the Senedd / WG has agreed – but never stated – is that Wales will do all it can to help England meet its absurd ‘targets’ for Net Zero or renewable energy by plastering Wales with wind farms that we don’t need and that simply send electricity to England.
Because, as you know, in England local communities are allowed to object to wind farms, to their local authorities, and they do, with the result that virtually no wind farms get built. While here in Wales wind farms count as Developments of National Significance which means no council involvement and decisions taken in the Bay, which makes them a foregone conclusion.
Yep, agree with all that. I can’t decide what the motives of the WG are … is it basically a “dirty protest” because they have no power over the sea, where we should be building turbines? And what are the motives for so little Welsh sea being licensed by the Crown Estate … is it just to keep the gogs begging for nuclear? And what are the motives for more nuclear (the most expensive electricity on earth) … is it just to keep the skills needed by the navy so the U.K. can pretend it’s a world power? Look out for the flooding of more Welsh valleys for the pumped storage nuclear will need (as well as quench England’s thirst)
You raise an excellent question … irrespective of the pros and cons for or against onshore wind turbines, why are none of the wind farms being developed by people from Wales? I’m sure there are many that only see money in them there hills
On longevity of turbines, I’d expect the towers and foundations to last far longer than 20 years, but the blades will almost certainly need to be swapped out. Given turbines allowed under Future Wales 2040 are what used to be termed “marine turbines” of up to 250 m high, there are only two places in the U.K. that could supply blades this big, Hull and the Isle of Wight. Both blade plants located “waterside” to load directly onto barges to take to (typically) the North Sea. Proximity to the south Wales docks is now a distinct advantage! As well as proximity to the two 400 kV Pembroke to England transmission lines
Given that offshore are now building 340 m turbines, how long before Future Wales 2040 is revised to allow turbines of that scale?
Welsh companies producing turbines could be part of a thriving Welsh economy. But the leftards running Wales don’t want a healthy economy. They want Wales just the way it is.
Reliant on funding from London that gives them the illusion of power and the funds with which to play student politics in a virtue-signalling shit-show that’s running Wales into the ground. When things go wrong – blame London!
I’d like to see credible and impartial evidence for how long onshore wind turbines last.
Agree totally! Hopefully the Celtic Sea will see far more “Welsh content” even if it’s only the steel and concrete floating topsides
I admire your optimism. Though I think it’s misplaced.
If Conwy can build Mulberry Harbours I’m sure Holyhead can build concrete topsides
There’s also the question of where Galileo would propose to put pylons to connect to the National Grid. They have not been upfront about that.
There’d have to be pylons, especially for the Bryn Cadwgan project. Though Mynydd Ty-talwyn is closer to the main line to England.
Bryn Cadwgan would probably use a buried cable as far as the Bute line of proposed pylons down the Tywi valley, if Bute have any spare capacity
Failing that the U.K. policy design guidelines encourages pylon lines to run in parallel, so they could follow the Bute line
Or failing that, National Grid might step in and propose a 400 kV line of 55 m pylons down the Tywi
Whatever option is chosen, we’re still stuck with huge turbines in a beautiful wilderness, killing red kites and other birds.
..and lumbered with Drakeford and his disorientated crew frothing at the mouth as they launch yet another programme to renew peatbogs and other “natural” features while licencing the wholesale ransacking of open spaces full of natural features. They ought to be confined to padded cells so they could chatter away to each other all day long without harming the outside world.
The media doesn’t report the trees cut down, the peat deposits destroyed, to put up turbines. But gives lots of publicity to ‘Welsh government’ paying to plant trees and ‘restore’ peat bogs. It’s bloody insane. The WG can’t do joined-up thinking and it avoids the hard decisions, especially when trying to satisfy different pressure groups.
An example is the new national park planned for a wide area around the Clwydian range. On the one hand, there are those pushing for an area as big as possible, with thoughts of curbing all development, maybe rewilding. On the other hand, we see those wanting to erect wind turbines, either in the area mooted, or very close. WG can’t please them both – but it wants to.
True, and as Wales can easily generate twice the electricity to reach net zero (whether you believe in that or not) just from offshore wind, there is certainly no NEED for onshore wind, or any other generation for that matter, other than storage and balancing. Ofgem have shown that offshore transmission is cheaper and faster to install than onshore so we just need the luddites overseeing the woeful Welsh energy strategy to get up to date
The issue explaining the WG’s lack of enthusiasm re offshore wind might be the Crown Estate, which would then explain the current moves to get the CE devolved, or partly devolved, as is the case in Scotland.