Former Wales rugby captain supports community wind co-ops

Paul Thorburn, a former captain of the Wales rugby team, has urged the people of Wales, and beyond, to get behind community energy.

In particular he is supporting Awel Co-operative in South Wales. The community benefit society and its project launched a share offer in November with the aim of owning and running two 2.35MW Enercon wind turbines on Mynydd y Gwrhyd, 20 miles north of Swansea. These turbines will produce clean, low-carbon energy and are forecast to generate an estimated 12,558 MWh of clean energy a year, enough to supply over 2,500 homes.

Profits will be used to support local charity Awel Aman Tawe in tackling fuel poverty and developing other renewable energy projects.

“This is a fantastic, co-operative way of taking action on climate change in the run up to the UN conference in Paris,” said Mr Thorburn. “Anyone can buy a share and therefore be a member of the co-op. One member, one vote. It’s an opportunity to share ownership of Welsh wind.

“I have followed this project over the years and have written to support their planning application in the past. I know how determined these guys are. I am a big supporter of community energy projects. I look forward to seeing the turbines turning above the Swansea and Neath Valleys.”

Mr Thorburn won Wales 37 caps between 1985 and 1991, and holds the record for the longest successful kick in an international test match (64.2m against Scotland during the 1986 Five Nations Championship).

“I harnessed wind energy to help some of my goal kicking attempts on the field,” he said, “and to now see the benefits returned to the local community from this resource, is incredible.”

Planning permission is in place, a grid connection offer secured and an application for Feed-in Tariff pre-accreditation submitted. Construction is planned to start in March 2016 and with the scheme expected to be completed by December 2016.

“We are delighted to receive Paul’s backing,” said Dan McCallum from Awel. “He’s been one of our long-term supporters. We want Wales to take the lead on tackling climate change. By investing in our wind co-op, anyone in Wales, or indeed further afield, can be part of that effort.”

• For more information, visit awel.coop