Cwmni Gwynt Teg was originally conceived by three hill farming families near Llanrwst whose livelihoods and way of life were at risk due to the various challenges that have faced farming over recent years. Hill sheep farming in the area is unbelievably still under restrictions from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 when the Welsh hills were polluted by nuclear fallout. As if that wasn’t enough, due to BSE there have also been restrictions on the sale of beef. Along with constant market volatility for their produce, such challenges together conspired to reduce the income of hill farmers by 75% over a three year period.

It was time to look for a solution to these problems! During the winter of discontent for farming in 1997, and whilst taking part in major protests at the Port of Holyhead, it became increasingly obvious to the farmers that they faced real financial hardship, and uncertainty about the future of farming for their children. It was during this depression that the co-operative, called “Cwmni Gwynt Teg” (meaning “Fair Wind”) was conceived. It was formed in early 1998 to diversify from traditional farming activities and develop a small scale wind farm of three turbines.

Whilst the three hill farmers were suffering badly from the various crises in agriculture, they realised that they, as hill farmers, actually owned some of the best and most productive wind power sites in Europe. So, despite having no background whatsoever in the wind industry, the families set out to develop, finance and build a farm to harness their greatest natural asset – the wind! It then took five years of dedication and hard work, especially the challenges of raising the necessary finance, until Cwmni Gwynt Teg, featuring the UK’s 1000th wind turbine, finally came to fruition at the beginning of 2003 when it was officially opened by Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales.

One of the turbine positions was sold for equity to a German company in order to make Cwmni Gwynt Teg financially viable. The remaining two are still in the ownership of the farming co-operative.

Following the success of the first project, the co-operative plans to extend the site, which will in turn provide more benefits to the local community. This next (and final) exciting phase is called “Ail Wynt’, or “second wind”.

Both projects have enjoyed tremendous support from the local community to date, with 1500 people turning out in September 2002 to celebrate the erecting of the first turbine. In addition, 500 people turned up on a freezing winter day on 31st January 2003 for the official opening of Cwmni Gwynt Teg’s two turbines by Rhodri Morgan, and the official launch of Ail Wynt.

Due equally to the success of Gwynt Teg and its proposals for Ail Wynt, especially of its groundbreaking plans for the local community, the project won the prestigious Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy in June 2003. Chosen from 25 renewable technology projects from throughout the UK, the award recognises outstanding and innovative renewable energy projects, and winners must be seen to be exemplary in the field of renewable energy and inspirational for others to follow. In particular, schemes are recognised that aim to alleviate poverty and/or improve people’s quality of life while protecting the environment.

At the awards ceremony, held at the National History Museum in London, the announcement that Cwmni Gwynt Teg were the 2003 UK winners was enthusiastically received by all. The emotion of the moment even spilled into song as the sizeable Welsh contingent belted out “Hen Wlâd fy ‘Nhadau”, urged on by some informal conducting by awards presenter Jonathan Dimbleby.