Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm has started generating renewable energy for the first time.

The 16-turbine wind farm, located between Ammanford and Clydach, is expected to produce enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent needs of approximately 22,600 average Welsh homes once fully operational later this year.

Swansea Council originally granted planning permission for the wind farm in 2013 but the project went through a number of hurdles before finally being approved in July 2016.

Construction of the wind farm started in February 2017. Since then, more than 20 Welsh based businesses have been involved in the 32.8MW renewable energy project.

The first turbine was successfully installed in October and now another major milestone has been achieved.

Tim James, the project manager at Innogy, said: “I am extremely proud of the team.

“Despite challenging conditions, we now have 10 turbines completed at Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm and we achieved first generation on January 29 which is testament to the team’s hard work.”

Construction is expected to be complete in late spring, early summer 2019.

The project is expected to be a significant investment and could create up to 104 equivalent full time jobs on average during each year of its construction and deliver £8.5 million to the local economies of South and West Wales.

Once fully operational, the community funding worth £240,000 per annum for the operational lifetime of the wind farm will become available for applications.

This flexible funding has the potential to significantly benefit communities both very local to the project and more widely across Swansea.

Through the construction of Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm, together with Clocaenog Forest and Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm, innogy will have invested £270 million into new renewable energy infrastructure.

Combined, these projects also signify a community investment package for the neighbouring communities £1.2 million per year for some 25 years.

For more information visit: www.innogy.com/mynyddygwair