Green GEN, a Bute Energy company, proposes to build a new electricity transmision line of over 60 miles to connect their Nant Mithil wind farm to the National Grid substation near Llandyfaelog, between Carmarthen. Most of the line will be carried on 27 metre steel pylons.
The pylon chain will run along the length of the Tywi Valley. The first section from the wind farm to the pylon connection substation at Hundred House will use double wood poles and a small section near Llanarthne will be buried underground. The 132kV overhead line will be a double circuit using six wires, three on each side of the pylons. The pylons will be spaced at aproximately 250 metres.
The project was announced in early spring 2023, with a major revision prior to the latest public consultation early 2024.
There is now a similar proposal for a pylon line running through the Teifi Valley to provide connection for the proposed Lan Fawr Energy Park to the east of Lampeter. This will cross the A40 and River Tywi near Merlin's Hill between Abergwili and Nantgaredig, to converge with the Towy-Usk line at the Llandyfaelog substation.
This is a Bute Energy proposal for a large wind farm in the hills of the Radnor Forest. The Nant Mithil development was given as the original reason to build the Towy-Usk line of pylons. It is a huge site of 1,836 hectares to the east of Llandrindod Wells, with plans for 31 wind turbines up to 220 metres tall. Since this first proposal, two other large wind farm sites nearby have been announced by Bute Energy, while in infamous Hendy wind farm is closeby and between them.
A Bute Energy proposed wind farm to the west of Nant Mithil and just 2 miles from Llandrindod Wells, this will connect to the Towy-Usk pylon line at the same Hundred House substation. 16 big turbines of 220m height are planned.
The other large wind farm near to Nant Mithil proposed by Bute Energy. This lies to the south of Bryn Gilwern and about 2.5 miles to the east of Builth Wells. It will also connect to the neaby Hundred House substation at the start of the Towy-Usk pylons line. The plans are for 18 turbunes, 200m high.
National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is proposing to build a new 400kV substation near Llandyfaelog, south of Carmarthen. This large development will be required in order to satisfy connection requests from Green GEN Cymru and National Grid Distribution (NGED)
Adjacent and connected will be two additional 132kV substations proposed by NGED and Green GEN Cymru, with the later being the connection point for both the Towy-Usk and Towy-Teifi transmission lines. The three substations will be treated as separate planning applications.
There is a cluster of proposed wind farms in the upland area east of Lampeter, between Llanddewi Brefi, Ffarmers and Rhandirmwyn. But surely these are of no great concern to us in the Tywi Valley? Well, yes they are! The Lan Fawr Energy Park from Bute Energy is the primary motivation behind the Towy-Teifi pylons line which will affect the lower part of the Tywi Valley. In addition, the giant wind turbines in all these plans will be clearly visible on the horizon from many places along the Tywi Valley. Detailed information is not available for all, but for Galileo's Bryn Cadwgan Energy Park the developer's own documentation shows many places will see the turbine hubs and blades, while for many more the blade tips will be visible. Locations include almost all of the North-West edge of Bannau Brycheiniog, from the hills behind Llandeilo all the way to Pen y Fan and Pen y Bryn, also other high spots such Llandovery Castle and Paxton's Tower.
Lan Fawr Energy Park - This proposal is at the start of the Towy-Teifi transmission line. There are few details yet but up to 40 large wind turbines are expected.
Bryn Cadwgan Energy Park - Proposed by Galileo Green Energy, with 25 turbines of 230m height, between Lan Fawr and Rhandirmwyn.
Waun Maenllwyd Wind Farm - A smaller wind farm proposal from Belltown Power at the north of Lan Fawr, with 6 turbines of 230m height.
There are other potential wind farm proposals in the area, but we currently have almost no information. Some notable ones are:
Nant Ceiment Energy Park - Bute Energy, south of Lampeter and lying on the route of the Towy-Teifi pylons line.
Blaencothi Energy Park - Bute Energy, next to Lan Fawr and Bryn Cadwgan.
Garreg Fawr Energy Park - Bute Energy, north of Sennybridge, would most likely need a transmission connection to the Towy-Usk line.
However, there might be more!