Wind Farms—10

Out at first light on Sunday, searching for wind turbines and snowy views towards the hills and Cerrig. The Jag wobbled quite a lot, not long after the Cross Keys, so it seemed prudent to turn back. Only about an inch of snow but enough to cause a spin. The afternoon, though bringing more snow showers, did also see some thawing. By then, the main roads were clear. This shot is as far as I felt it prudent to go to see the developing Wern Ddu part of the Clwyd Power Station, because upland rural roads were compacted & treacherous.

Like toadstools after the rain they sprouted, pole-like wind turbine shafts, spindly and as uncalled for as fungi on a well-tended lawn. Wern Ddu (Craig Lelo), you may recall, went to appeal in 2007 but since it was on the edge of the so-called strategic search area A, it was waved through. It’s above Gwyddelwern and two are currently in build. To get them there, roads have had to be closed, to allow these Goliaths to travel.

Mercifully, they seem invisible from both Rhuthun/Ruthin and the A494 Rhuthun-Corwen road, though passers-by may still see the rotor heads in an adjacent lay-by north of Gwyddelwern. Meanwhile, you can see the turbines themselves under construction as you mount the top of the Cerrig road, the B5105, alarmingly close to and above the village of Clawddnewydd. But it’s villagers in Betws Gwerful Goch who get the prime view. There will be a total of 10 turbines to see.

Meanwhile, Ynni Gwynd Cymru/Wind Power Wales attempts to soften up residents around Broydd Aled ac Uwchaled, this week. There are a series of concerts, one each in Llanasannan, Pentrefoelas & Llangernyw, featuring respectively Trebor Edwards, Elin Fflur and Rhuthun’s Rhys Meririon, all of whom are of course best known to Welsh speaking audiences. It tells you something that all concerts are free of charge.

In addition this week, there are four Windpower Wales public exhibitions in Cerrig, Llansannan, Pentrefoelas and Llangernyw. The nearest one to Rhuthun’s at Cerrig today, between 1 and 7 p.m.

• Windpower Wales’ Llys Dymper is west of Llyn Brenig and expects to see between 15-29 turbines on Hiraethog, generating 72½ MW of electricity.


• Tegni Cymru Cyf’s Wern Ddu turbine deliveries and construction commenced last month.


• To come from Tegni is Derwydd Bach (Mein y Wg, 140 MW). Gorsedd Brân was refused after a public inquiry.

View all my 10 posts on wind farms here