Towy-Teifi grid connection proposal


proposed Towy-Usk pylon line

Developer: Green GEN Cymru

132kV, dual circuit. Approximately 190 pylons, plus unspecified wood poles, about 33 miles (52km).

Average steel pylon height 29.5 metres, variable depending on terrain, typical span between pylons 250 metres.

Route is from Lan Fawr Energy Park, east of Llanddewi Brefi, to Llandyfaelog. First part of section 1, mostly running through the Lan Fawr Energy Park, is on wood poles. The main route sections are overhead cables on steel lattice pylons, to near Merlin's Hill, north-east of Carmarthen, and another section south-east of Carmarthen. There are two underground sections, from Merlin's Hill to the other side of the Afon Tywi and B4300, then a final section to the Llandyfaelog substation in order to avoid converging overhead cables.

Announced late 2023 with first public consultation in January 2024 and phase-2 consultations spring 2025. Revisions to proposals made early 2026,with expected further consultations later in 2026.

The primary purpose of the new line is to connect the proposed Lan Fawr Energy Park, a very large Bute Energy development with up to 40 wind turbines up to 220 metres in height.

It is expected that the proposed Bryn Rhudd Energy Park, another Bute Energy development, will also connect to the Towy-Teifi line. However, there is not yet a project for this and therefore no further information. This will be a separate planning application.

The proposed Bryn Cadwgan wind farm, by Galileo Empower, is located close to Lan Fawr. The planned grid connection is to Llandyfaelog, however it is currently unknown whether this will make use of the Towy-Teifi line or an alternative. It will be subject to a separate planning application.

The Glyn Cothi Wind Farm proposed by Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru is close to the Towy-Teifi line but our understanding is that it will not be used for connection, instead a new 132kV wood pole line to the Llandyfaelog substation will be constructed. It is assumed this will require a separate planning application.

To the north of Carmarthen the proposed Towy-Teifi route passes close to two existing wind farms, which already have their own connection lines. Brechfa Forest wind farm has a grid connection at Llandyfaelog via a 132kV line, 28.6km overhead, using single and double wood poles, and 3.3km underground near Abergwili.The neighbouring Alltwalis wind farm has a 132kV overhead grid connection north-west to the Rhos substation on the A484.

References (external, open in new tab):

Green GEN Cymru Towy-Teifi project website

PEDW planning casework: Green GEN Towy-Teifi Project

PEDW planning casework: Lan Fawr Energy Park

Bute Energy: Lan Fawr Energy Park

Bute Energy: Bryn Rhudd Energy Park