Bute Energy has awarded a £1 million contract to Cardiff-based consultancy Terra Firma for pre-construction ground investigations at its 92-megawatt Tywen Hywel wind farm in Wales.
The contract will see Terra Firma carry out ground sample testing, along with archaeological and ecological assessments, at the site near the Caerphilly-Rhondda Cynon Taff border. The work is essential for preparing the 14-turbine wind farm for construction, which is set to begin later this year. The Tywen Hywel project will be the first of 16 onshore wind projects in Bute Energy's pipeline to be developed in Wales.
Bute Energy has also emphasized its strategy to retain as much of the planned £3 billion investment for the portfolio within Wales, benefiting the local economy, supply chains, and communities. The Tywen Hywel wind farm is expected to become operational by 2027.
Sid Anverali, Project Director at Bute Energy, said: “We are committed to doing our part to support the Welsh supply chain and contribute to green growth for Wales' economy. We are proud to be working with Terra Firma, demonstrating the impact that our shift to renewables can have on Welsh business and the Welsh economy as a whole.”
Anverali also highlighted that the project will create hundreds of new jobs and generate a community fund of around £700,000 annually, with an additional 2% of the value of each contract being reinvested into local communities through the Bute Energy social value standard.
Matthew Lake, Director at Terra Firma, commented: “Renewable energy is key to achieving Wales' net-zero targets, and we are very excited to be playing our part alongside Bute Energy to achieve this. It's great to see contracts like this offered to local businesses, providing great career opportunities, apprenticeships, and training for the next generation of aspiring engineering geologists and geo-technicians.”
Lake also noted that the contract has enabled Terra Firma to employ several new staff members from the local area, including supervising engineers and site support technicians. “Not only does this add value to the Welsh economy, but the staff will also benefit from having access to clean renewable energy which they helped to develop,” he added.
