Renewable Energy 2010

In February 2010 The Cwm Arian Renewable Energy (CARE) Project has been successful in clinching a £400,000 grant from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) under the low carbon communities challenge scheme (LCCC). We are looking at appointing and officer and utilizing the funds to work on developing the community resource centre to showcase community low carbon initiatives and to offer funding for community renewable initiatives. See grant info and the business plan ALSO below is the Powerpoint presentation showing our cmmunity developments over the past 10 years.

Cwmarian - Business Plan - Sept 2009 - v2

CWM Arian - Feb additional LCCC - application Phase 2 v4

CWM ARIAN POWER POINT Presentation 1999 to 2010

Feasibility Study 2006

The Ynni Cwm Arian Energy working group was formed to enable background research to be carried out into utilising Renewable Energy resources and to investigate Energy Efficiency for local households in the Silver Valley area.

Part of the work being carried out in the Heritage working identified various historical means of using water power on farms, mills and in Glogue Quarry. One the group, Mike Parcell carried out an investigation into the use of local streams for modern micro-hydro systems. This investigation identified one existing unused water turbine and three potential micro-hydro sites. Mike then produced a Preliminary Feasibility Study which included calculations of potential energy production and example diagrams of installations.

Using this study as an example of the Energy Group's credentials, an application was made to the Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park Authority for a Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) grant to carry out a wider study into all forms of sustainable energy within the Silver valley area. In December 2005, the group was awarded an 00 SDF grant to employ a specialist company to undertake this study. PLANED also came forward with 00 of match-funding to cover the ancillary costs of the work. After tendering, the work was awarded to Dulas Ltd of Machynlleth to carry out a feasibility study into the possibilities of using wind, water and biomass sources to generate electricity locally and to advise in the implementing of Energy Efficiency in the home.

Over January, February and March of 2006, Dulas carried out site visits to investigate wind and water sites, met with the Energy Group and carried desk-based work using specialised computer packages.

FEASIBILITY REPORT (Download)

The finalised Renewable Energy Feasibility Study Report was presented to the Silver Valley association in late March together with a PowerPoint presentation ( Dulas Presentation) and two public meetings were held to broadcast the findings. In addition, a questionnaire was delivered by hand to all the households within the area to invite comment upon various aspects of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

The study identified a site that looked promising for the siting of two wind turbines on the hills behind Llanfyrnach. These wind turbines would provide income from selling the generated electricity to the National Grid; this would generate money that can be put back into the community for the benefit of its residents. However, it is not economically feasible, nor practical, to provide local households with 'free' ectricity directly from such wind turbines (if you want to know why me and talk to us). The micro-hydro sites looked less promising due to the higher cost of implementation per kilowatt of energy produced. Biomass was considered non-viable from lack of local resource that could be utilised without high transport costs.

The group is now considering the next phase of undertaking a detailed study of the identified wind-power site to take measurements over a period of 12 months. At the same time it will be identifying possibilities for funding and pursuing the task of seeking planning permissions.

If you would like to talk to somebody on the group, whether you are for or against the project, the members are:

Cris Tomos, Bill (Trefawr) Davies, Mike Parcell, Aidan Langton