Frequently Asked Questions:

I've never heard of SSE Renewables, is it a new company?
SSE Renewables was established in 1997 and is now one of the leading renewable energy developers in the UK, and increasingly overseas.
Who is SSE Renewables?

SSE Renewables is the renewable energy development division of Scottish and Southern Energy plc (SSE). SSE is one of the UK’s leading energy companies, involved in the generation, distribution and supply of electricity and in the storage, distribution and supply of gas. It supplies energy to over nine million customers throughout the country, including in Wales through its SWALEC brand. It is independently-recognised as the best energy supplier for customer service and is the UK’s leading generator of electricity from renewable sources. Through SSE Renewables it is involved in the development of new renewable energy projects covering wind, wave, tide, and hydro electricity. SSE currently has
around 2,200MW of hydro, wind and dedicated biomass capacity, making it the UK’s largest generator of electricity from renewable sources and giving it the most diverse mix of fuels. You can find more information on our websites:
at: www.airtricity.com and www.scottish-southern.co.uk
Why are you developing a wind farm at Nant yMoch?

The site is one of seven Strategic Search Areas (SSAs) appointed by the Welsh Assembly Government as suitable for large scale wind farms. These areas were established under TAN8 (2005) planning policy. The SSAs were identified by the Welsh Assembly Government on the basis that they had a good wind resource in conjunction with lower
landscape sensitivity to wind farms. SSE Renewables was the successful bidder with Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) to develop a wind farm on FCW land at this site. All of the Nant y Moch turbines developed will be within the TAN 8 boundary.
Where is the site?

The location of the proposed wind farm is east of the A487 between Tal-y-bont and the Nant y Moch reservoir in an area of Forestry Commission Wales managed land and privately owned agricultural grazing land.
How many turbines do you want to build at Nant yMoch?

The proposal is currently for a wind farm site with an expected rated capacity of 140 – 176 megawatts (MW). This would equate to between 60 and 80 turbines.
What height will the turbines be?

The turbines will have a maximum tip height (that’s to the top of the blade) of 145 metres (m).
What is the expected timeframe for the development?

We expect to submit a planning application early in 2010. The application will be determined by the Infrastructure Planning Commission. If the scheme is approved, it is likely that construction would begin in 2013 and that the wind
farm would be fully operational by mid 2017, when the grid connection will be in place.
How much renewable energy will the potential scheme provide?

Our proposal is for a wind farm with a capacity of between 140MW and 176MW. A typical wind farm of this scale will generate enough electricity when operating to supply the equivalent demand of approximately 65,000 homes (based on a typical energy consumption per household of 4,700kW hours per year).
Will the turbines be close to any homes?

The final positions of each turbine are yet to be decided, dependent on the completion of the environmental and technical studies. No turbines will, however, be erected closer than 700m to inhabited uninvolved dwellings.
Will the wind turbines be noisy?

The evolution of wind farm technology over the past decade has rendered mechanical noise from turbines almost undetectable with the main sound being the aerodynamic swoosh of the blades passing the tower. We follow strict guidelines on wind turbines and noise emissions to ensure the protection of residential amenity. It is possible to stand underneath a turbine and hold a conversation without having to raise your voice. As wind speed rises, the noise of the wind masks the noise made by wind turbines.
Do wind turbines frighten livestock?

Sheep, cows and horses are not disturbed by wind turbines and land used for wind farms can continue to be used for growing crops or grazing livestock.
Will they look nice?

Often it’s a matter of opinion as to whether you think wind turbines are elegant or ugly. Certainly it’s a large development that is being proposed, but the site’s area is also large and it is also relatively remote. Due to their positioning to catch the wind it is a fact that wind farms can often be seen from varying distances (on clear days). Visual impact is a key consideration in the actual design and planning process of each scheme. We will attempt to ensure that this scheme, which is in a location prescribed by the Welsh Assembly Government for wind energy development, will be carefully designed so as to minimise the overall effects to the landscape and to visual amenity.
Will you be clearing the forestry?

For the purposes of construction and operation of the wind farm, large scale clearance of the woodlands will not be necessary. Instead, forestry ‘key holing’ will take place, whereby only a minimum of trees will be removed around turbines locations. These areas will then be targeted for habitat restoration, particularly dry heath, peat and species
improvement. Other areas in Nant y Moch forest will be identified for suitable habitat management, the intention being to create a net overall positive contribution to the ecology of the Nant y Moch forest.
Do wind farms affect tourism?

There is no evidence to suggest wind farms affect tourism. Indeed, the UK’s first commercial wind farm at Delabole received 350,000 visitors in its first ten years of operation. A MORI poll in Scotland showed that 80% of tourists would be interested in visiting a wind farm.
What will the cost be to the tax payer?

There is no subsidy or cost to the taxpayer on building the Nant y Moch wind farm - it will be funded by our capital investment programme.
How efficient are wind turbines?

The theoretical maximum energy which a wind turbine can extract from the wind blowing across it is just under 60%, known as the Betz limit. Modern wind turbines extract at least 70% of this available energy. Wind turbines are therefore highly efficient. However the meaning of efficiency is a redundant concept to apply to wind energy, where the fuel is free. The primary concern is not the efficiency for its own sake, but to improve productivity in order to bring the price of wind energy down.
How much of the time do wind turbines produce electricity?

A modern wind turbine produces electricity 70-85% of the time, but it generates different outputs dependent on wind speed. Over the course of a year, it is likely to generate about 30% of the theoretical maximum output. This is known as its load factor. The load factor of conventional fossil-fuel power stations is on average 50%.
How long does it take for a turbine to ‘pay back’ the energy used to manufacture it?

The comparison of energy used in manufacture with the energy produced by a power station is known as the ‘energy balance’. It can be expressed in terms of energy ‘pay back’ time (ie as the time needed to generate the equivalent amount of energy used in manufacturing the wind turbine or power station). The average wind farm in the UK will pay back the energy used in its manufacture within six to eight months. (Source: BWEA)
How does a wind turbine make electricity?

The simplest way to think about this is to imagine that a wind turbine works in exactly the opposite way to a fan. Instead of using electricity to move air, like a fan, turbines use the moving air (wind) to make electricity. Almost all wind turbines producing electricity consist of rotor blades which rotate in a vertical plane around a horizontal hub.
The hub is connected to a gearbox and generator, which are located inside the nacelle. The nacelle is the large part at the top of the tower where all the electrical components are located. Most wind turbines have three blades which face into the wind; the wind turns the blades round, this spins the shaft, which connects to a generator and this is
where the electricity is made. A generator is a machine that produces electrical energy from mechanical energy.
What are wind turbines made of?

The towers are mostly tubular and made of steel, generally painted light grey. The blades are made of glass-fibre reinforced polyester or wood-epoxy. They are light grey because this is the colour which is most inconspicuous under most lighting conditions. The finish is matt, to reduce reflected light.
How strong does the wind have to blow for the wind turbines to work?

Wind turbines start operating at wind speeds of four to five metres per second (around 10 miles an hour) and reach maximum power output at around 15 metres/second (around 33 miles per hour). At very high wind speeds, ie gale force winds, (25 metres/second, 50+ miles/hour) wind turbines automatically shut down.
What is peat and is there peat at Nant y Moch?

‘Peatland’ ecosystems are characterised by their unique ability to accumulate and store dead plant matter (commonly from moss, sedge, reed and tree species) as peat, under conditions of almost permanent water saturation. Peatlands are adapted to the extreme conditions of high water and low oxygen content, of toxic elements and low availability of plant nutrients. Their water chemistry varies from alkaline to acidic. A peatland is an area (with or without vegetation) with a naturally accumulated peat layer at the surface.
Mires are peatlands where peat is currently being formed. Mires are wetlands, as peat is largely formed under waterlogged conditions. There are many ways of classifying peatlands that vary according to the purposes of the classification. Basically peatlands are classified into ‘bogs’ that lay higher than their surroundings and ‘fens’ in landscape depressions. These ecosystems can store carbon dioxide in the peat and therefore act as a carbon sink, trapping the carbon dioxide that arises naturally on the planet and through human activity. Deeper peat will have formed over many thousands of years, and as such has considerably more carbon embedded in it. Peatlands are the single largest carbon reserve in the UK. They store around three billion tonnes of carbon, the equivalent of 20 years of UK CO2 emissions. The land contained within the potential development boundary for Nant y Moch is owned by private landowners and the Forestry Commission Wales (FCW). Around half of the site area is under commercial forestry management. This portion of the site is covered with conifer trees in various stages, from open, recent clear fell areas with little vegetation through thicket trees to mature forest. There are also a few more established open areas, which include areas of vegetation interest along track sides or within rides. The balance of the site area comprises tracts of improved and semi-improved grazing land surrounding the FCW land holding area. The site topography comprises a number of ridges and valleys, often with steep terrain and surface hydrology comprising an extensive network of streams and culverts. It has been noted in work to date that the formation of peat deposits is limited by the steepness of terrain and hydrological interactions. Only very limited areas of deeper peat are present across the site area in boggy areas, where development is unlikely to take place.
Where are the bog habitats with peat at Nant y Moch, what quality are they, and won’t you damage them with the construction of the wind farm?

Ecological studies, geological surveys and civil construction investigations have been ongoing within the study area for the Nant y Moch wind farm for nearly two years now. The work of the surveyors includes the identification of habitats through Phase 1 classification, an assessment using the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) system, use of aerial photography and British Geological Survey maps, and comprehensive peat probing throughout the development area. Through this survey work we have been able to identify areas of peat and the peat depths.

In currently forested areas, prior to commercial forestation, the vegetation would have been some form of blanket bog. Remnant areas of bog vegetation are scattered through the development site, but these are highly fragmented and exist in small patches. The small size of these areas probably also reflects the patchy nature of the on-site peat. There are few broad plateaux where peat has been able to accumulate to any great extent and the ‘hummock-hollow’ nature of the topography and steep-sided valleys are not conducive to peat formation. Bog vegetation forms only a very small percentage of the overall site area, and none of these patches are in favourable condition. Where peat has been identified we are designing the wind farm to utilise existing forestry track infrastructure throughout the area, which avoids the peat. We are also seeking to avoid the peat where existing tracks cannot be used. If peat is to be affected, we are limiting wind farm infrastructure to areas where the peat is thin or degraded. The design of the wind farm infrastructure is also taking account of hydrological flows throughout the area, which are crucially important to peat, which requires plenty of water for its survival. As such the development will be designed to ensure that hydrological flows remain largely uninterrupted by new site infrastructure. It is considered important that the bog systems remain intact, with the overall result that carbon is effectively stored over the lifetime of the bog. This is the aim for the design and construction of the wind farm.
Where there are areas of peat. is there a chance it will subside or slide due to the construction activity?

Where identified, we will be conducting a comprehensive peat slide risk assessment, in accordance with guidance issued by the Scottish Executive, Peat Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessments: Best Practice Guide for Proposed Electricity Generation Developments (Scottish Executive, 2007). This approach has been agreed with the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW). Through this approach we will be able to understand the strength values of the peat and how the peat deposits affected by construction activities will be impacted. The peat strength values can then be evaluated for their potential to slide risk, along with a detailed understanding of slope angles. These measurements will allow a calculation to be undertaken on the potential for peat slides. We will then ensure that the wind farm infrastructure avoids areas with a significant risk of peat slide. Sound construction practices would be in place to minimise damage to peat and hydrological systems in order to avoid peat slides.
Will damage to peat release carbon dioxide?

It is likely that some shallower peat may be disturbed, and indeed damage to any kind of vegetation and soil will release carbon dioxide. This is the inevitable result of construction practices. However, the purpose of wind farms is to produce electricity from a renewable resource that does not give rise to greenhouse gas emissions. Historically, the wind industry has claimed that wind farms pay back their carbon debt (from the manufacture of turbines, construction) within three to 10 months of operation. They are carbon free after that, save for a small associated effect during decommissioning. Such claims have been supported by a number of institutions and bodies, including the Economic Development Committee for Wales (2003), the Sustainable Development Commission (2006) and the British Wind Energy Association. Concern arose in Scotland and Wales where developments were located on bog where significant areas and depths of peat were found, leading to more associated carbon emissions through peat disturbance. In a report on carbon sinks and wind farms by Scottish Natural Heritage (2006), it concluded that well designed and constructed wind farms are likely to pay back their carbon debt within one to two years. An assessment of the likely carbon savings from the Nant y Moch wind farm as a result of the offsetting of fossil fuel derived electricity generation will be calculated. We will however ensure that the calculation includes all elements of the turbine manufacture, construction activities and peat damage in line with recent guidance from the Scottish Executive.
Will you be able to improve the peat habitats following the construction of the wind farm, such that you can give something back to the biodiversity of the area?

During the extensive surveys being undertaken, we are identifying areas where bog and habitat restoration could take place. We are consulting with the Forestry Commission and CCW on a detailed Habitat Management Plan through which areas are identified to restore biodiversity.
Where can I find out more?

Countryside Council for Wales, http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/habitats--species/terrestrial/habitats/the-uplands-of-wales/blanket-bogs.aspx Scottish Natural Heritage 2003, Windfarms and Carbon Savings, Technical Guidance Note Scottish Executive 2006, Peat Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessments: Best Practice Guide for Proposed Electricity Generation Developments, Natural Scotland Sustainable Development Commission, 2005, Wind Power in the UK Economic Development Committee 2003, Review of Energy Policy in Wales, Renewable Energy – Final Report Scottish Government 2006, Calculating carbon savings from wind farms on Socttish peat lands – a new approach, Hall David Millborrow 1998, Dispelling the Myths of Energy Payback Time, Wind Stats Newsletter Vol 11, No 2
How long will the wind turbines last?

The Nant y Moch wind farm has an expected lifespan of 25 years. During this time, as with a car, some parts may need replacing.
Has grid connection been secured by SSE Renewables?

The National Grid intends to upgrade the system to enable the grid connection of the wind farm. The grid connection will be on single/double wooden poles similar to ones used to connect other local wind farms to the grid.
What happens when the wind farm is taken down (decommissioned)?

SSE Renewables will either choose to apply for planning permission to continue to operate the wind farm, or will restore the area (to a depth of one metre) to a condition comparable to its present condition. Wind energy technology is essentially reversible and compared to some other generation methods, decommissioning a wind farm is fairly
straightforward and simple. An Arup report presented a view as to how the TAN 8 areamight be refined.
How will this report be taken into account?

Ceredigion and Powys County Council commissioned a company called Ove-Arup to investigate local refinement of SSA D: Nant y Moch in 2006/7. TAN 8 permits local authorities to make minor refinements of the SSA’s in order to guide and optimise development. Arup published a report of its investigations and presented a view as to how the TAN 8 area might be refined. Ceredigion and Powys County Council have chosen not adopted this as planning policy. Where similar studies were prepared in north Wales, the results were considered and subsequently rejected by the planning authority. On this basis, while SSE Renewables will take account of the Arup landscape sensitivity analysis, other
sources of advice will also be taken into account.
How do you expect to deliver the turbine components to site and where will be construction traffic go?

The component parts of the turbines will be delivered by road using the main trunk road connections. SSE Renewables is currently looking at the logistics of the delivery of the turbines from either Swansea or Ellesmere Port to Mid Wales with the relevant Highways Authorities and a transport study is being undertaken. There are a number of options
that we are investigating for accessing and entering the Nant y Moch wind farm site. Fortunately the upper reaches of the SSA D area have for many years been accessible to heavy machinery for the maintenance and harvesting of the forests and we will be able to utilise existing tracks. It is expected that only a certain amount of infrastructure
upgrading may be needed to widen existing tracks and strengthen bridges.
Will there be any disruption to local communities from construction traffic?

During the wind farm construction, which would be approximately 18 – 24 months, there will be periods of intense activity, such as concrete pouring for foundations and the delivery of turbine components. All vehicle movements will be controlled through a Traffic Management Plan to be agreed with Ceredigion Highways Authority and the
Highways Agency. This plan will minimise disruption to local roads and communities by, for example, reducing movements during busy periods.
What benefits will there be to the local community?

SSE Renewables will seek to maximise where possible the use of products and services sourced from Welsh suppliers in the development. Contracting Dulas Ltd, based in Machynlleth, and Melin Cyf (part of Strata Matrix) in Aberystwyth are examples of this, as well as directly employing a local community liaison officer – Eluned Lewis).
Will there be a community benefit fund?

SSE Renewables recognises the cooperation of the communities throughout Great Britain which host our new major generation projects through the provision of community benefit funds. To ensure all communities are treated equitably, we have developed a package of benefits which we believe represent fair value, while assisting communities in reducing their energy consumption. A community benefit fund, in line with our policy, will be made available for the Nant y Moch wind farm. The Community Liaison Group will inform the development and delivery mechanism of this fund.
Where can I getmore information?

If you have any further questions or queries, you can contact Eluned Lewis who is our bilingual and locally-based Community Liaison Officer. Eluned is based in the Machynlleth area, within easy reach of the immediately affected communities, and will be in post throughout the development and construction stages.
Address:

Eluned Lewis
Community Liaison Officer, SSE Renewables, Y Plas, Machynlleth, SY20 8ER
Email: eluned.lewis@sserenwables.com
Telephone: 01654 702720
Mobile: 07814 020 097

You can also visit www.nantymochwindfarm.com
SSE Renewables Developments (UK) Limited, 16 Robertson Street, Glasgow G2 8DS, Scotland.
SSE Renewables Developments (UK) Limited, Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth PH1 3AQ, Scotland.
Registered in Northern Ireland: NI43294 SSE Renewables Developments (UK) Limited.
Registered Office: 2nd Floor, 83–85 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7AF, Northern Ireland.