Wales is unique in that it is the only EU nation that has sustainable development built into its constitution.

There have been many definitions of sustainable development including:

• Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
  own needs.
• Treating the Earth as though we intend to stay.
• Living on Earth's income rather than eroding its capital.

Whatever definition is used, Ail Wynt is a practical example at a local level of the three cornerstones of sustainable development - Social, Economic and Environmental.

Social

• By providing economic security, the project helps safeguard the future of rural Wales, its unique culture and social traditions, including the traditional Welsh family farm and most importantly the preserving of the Welsh language - one of Europe’s oldest living languages - for the benefit of future generations.
• Generating local employment - all the main building contractors for phase one were from the local area and the co-operative members all employ local people in their other rural businesses.
• The retainment of ‘new money’ within a community, as offered by Ail Wynt’s pioneering scheme, is the one way to redress the serious problem facing rural areas, of young people migrating to urban areas in search of work and affordable housing.

Economic

• The project is unique to Britain in that it is the only one of its kind that is in the ownership of local farmers; therefore the economic benefits stay with the local community.
• An opportunity for the local community to invest in the project will not only give financial rewards, but will also serve to raise awareness of the need for renewable energy globally, and for wind farms locally. A bonus scheme for the investors in windy (productive) years will again forge that link.
• The project will donate money to an Energy Savings Grant Scheme. Grants will be awarded directly to homes in the upper Conwy Valley for the purchase and installation of energy saving equipment, which in turn will serve to raise awareness of environmental issues, including the need to reduce energy use; this will serve to further stimulate local industry, and by actually saving money on energy bills for local people, therefore improving the local economy.

Environmental

• The energy generated is renewable i.e. it is not a finite resource that will run out (such as oil and gas).
  The energy is clean, emitting no harmful gases whatsoever, especially of carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
• Helps by keeping the farmers on the land, thus maintaining the natural Welsh upland landscape as has been done by farmers from one generation to the next.
• Wind energy is safe to human health. This contrasts with nearby nuclear plants which have recently shut down on safety grounds, and that of the legacy of the Chernobyl disaster of 1986.
• The turbines will pay back the energy used in their manufacture within the first five months of generating power.
• At the end of their useful life, the turbines will be dismantled and the components re-cycled and the land returned to its original state, leaving no price to pay by our future generations
• Ail Wynt will result in a saving of at least 26,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. 304 tonnes of nitrogen dioxide will also be saved each year, which is a major contributor to atmospheric pollution including acid rain.
• All these facts demonstrate that the project is genuinely sustainable in a wide variety of ways. However the project is also able to highlight further benefits:

Giving to the local community

The project will be donating £50,000 (this will be match funded to make £100,000) each year to assist with an energy efficiency programme in the Upper Conwy valley, to help maintain warm homes and prevent the health risks associated with homes with poor energy efficiency. It will also be donating £15,000 annually to be shared between two local councils for local initiatives.

Caring for the environment

Approximately 300 acres of the site will be established by Ail Wynt as a Bird Sanctuary, and to protect fragile and declining wetland habitats. By working constructively with the RSPB, this land will be managed to encourage the breeding of endangered species such as the Lapwing, Curlew, Golden Plover, as well as traditional Farmland Birds. The health of humans and of our planet is dependant upon biodiversity, or the range of species that interact within our fragile eco-systems. Because of the way in which farmers have cared for the land in the UK over the centuries, farmland has provided important habitats for wildlife, but wildlife continues to be under threat. This programme with the RSPB is a chance to make a positive contribution to conserve and encourage wildlife in the area.

Successful track record

The site has proven its effectiveness since it started its operations, with an overall efficiency of 43% being well ahead of the average site.
Pilot project

The project can act as a case study model that can be replicated for other hill farming communities throughout rural Wales and Britain. This could help the government address the problems facing agriculture and greenhouse gas emissions at the same time.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure, in particular the expensive connection to the National Grid, is already in place, and can handle the increased output. The line has an estimated capacity of between 20 Mw and 24 Mw, (the final figure is to be confirmed by a survey). Given that the turbines used are rated at 1.3 Mw/h, this means that the maximum number of turbines will be in the region of 15-18 although the Moel Moelogan site will be fully developed with a total of 12 turbines.

Scale

Rather than being a vast collection of turbines, the project is of an appropriate scale to the local needs.

Investment opportunity for local people *

The current expansion will be part-financed by the issue of investment opportunities in the company to raise a minimum of £1 million, and these will be offered to the local community. There will be an estimated minimum 8% return year on year, with a bonus payment in more productive years.

Support from local organisations

The project has been keen to involve local organisations in its plans as much as possible, and support has been received from a wide range of groups ranging from the National Farming Unions, Friends of the Earth and the Church of Wales, and approved by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and the RSPB.

Educational resource

There is no doubt that energy harnessed from nature will provide increasing amounts of power for future generations, therefore it is vital to raise awareness about environmental issues amongst our children. In order to provide a practical example of this, the Energy Saving Scheme will be targeting local schools in order to install renewable equipment such as Photo-voltaic cells.

The Cwmni Gwynt Teg project has already been the subject of many field visits by Universities and school day trips. The Ail Wynt site will also be available for school visits, and an educational pack will be developed.




* Important notice: This does not constitute an offer or an invitation to subscribe for bonds. Investment in Ail Wynt Co is intended to be for the long term as income from your investment may fluctuate. You may not get back the full amount invested. It may be difficult to sell or realise your investment, or to obtain reliable information about its value or other risks to which it is exposed. Ail Wynt will publish a prospectus. Applications can only be made on the application form obtained in the prospectus and on the basis of, and subject to, the information contained in the prospectus.This web site has been approved by Triodos Bank NV.