Moel Maelogan
Encyclopedia
Mynydd Hiraethog
Mynydd Hiraethog is an upland region in Conwy and Denbighshire in north-east Wales. It includes the large reservoir Llyn Brenig and the Clocaenog Forest, which has one of Wales's last populations of red squirrels. Its highest point is Mwdwl-eithin, at above sea level, making it higher than Exmoor...
(also known as the Denbigh Moors) in north Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and overlooking the Conwy Valley. It is known mostly as the general location of a wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
.
The initial 3 turbines were erected in 2002, and started generating in January 2003, each turbine capable of producing 1300kW. This scheme marked erection of the UK Wind Industry's 1000th turbine and was initially welcomed, as it had been set up by 3 local farmers to boost their incomes, under the company name of Cwmni Gwynt Teg ("Fair Wind"). After commissioning, however, it was not without its opponents, not least because, although not located in the Snowdonia National Park itself, the turbines are visible from many parts of it.
Of the 3 turbines, 2 are owned and operated by the local farming co-operative, the third is owned and operated by Energiekontor. Energiekontor UK Ltd, the UK subsidiary of the German wind development company Energiekontor AG, was instrumental in the finance and construction of the wind farm.
The electricity produced goes to the local Llanrwst
Llanrwst
Llanrwst is a small town and community on the A470 road and the River Conwy in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It takes its name from the 5th century to 6th century Saint Grwst, and the original parish church in Cae Llan was replaced by the 12th-century church....
sub-station 4.5km away, and is sold to the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency.
Under the project name of "Ail Wynt" (Second Wind), Cwmni Gwynt Teg planned a further 11 turbines but this was rejected. Despite further opposition a plan for an additional 9 turbines was passed, and erection and commission of these took place in 2008 "within a more compact area and at reduced height."
Cwmni Gwynt Teg won an Ashden Award in 2003 for their work on the wind farm.