Blaenau Gwent Council has commissioned a feasibility study to look at the viability of hydropower within the Llanhilleth and Cwm community.
Funding of £20,000 has been awarded by the Cwm a Mynydd Local Action Group. The Local Action Group received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government to support projects across rural areas of Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly.
The Council will work with a specialist contractor to determine how renewable energy and the use of micro hydropower can be generated.
The study will focus on investigating the natural resources available in Cwm and Llanhilleth.
It will explore opportunities using water flows from the river to generate energy that could support local communities with renewable power.
Communities will benefit directly by reduced energy costs and the initiative will support building low carbon communities as part of the transition to a zero carbon future set out by Welsh Government and the local authority.
Blaenau Gwent Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration & Economic Development, Councillor Dai Davies, said:
“The Council is delighted to be exploring options in renewable resources as part of the Energy Prospectus that was recently adopted. We are committed to tackling the climate crisis, and it is vital that we explore all options to move to a much greener energy.
“We very much hope that the feasibility study results in a positive outcome. The findings will be reported to Council and we will engage with stakeholders to discuss the development of renewable energy and the benefits it will bring to communities.”
Funding has been awarded by Welsh Government’s Rural Communities – Rural Development 2014-2020 Programme and The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe Investing in Rural Areas.
The grant is administered by Cwm a Mynydd Caerphilly & Blaenau Gwent Local Action Group (CBGLAG).