Coriolis Energy and ESB have announced plans for 11 turbine wind farm in Gwynedd, North Wales.

Named Foel Fach, it will be built near the town of Bala.

The proposal from the renewable energy developers will see the installation of wind turbines, capable of generating an impressive 79.2 MW of electricity.

They claim this would be sufficient to meet the annual energy needs of more than 55,000 average households.

The Welsh government has set tackling climate change as a priority and sees renewable energy as a vital means of reducing the country’s carbon emissions.

The Foel Fach project will also contribute significantly to the government's net-zero target by 2050.

Additionally, it will help in achieving the Welsh government's goal of sourcing 100 per cent of its annual electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2035.

Currently, onshore wind is an essential part of the UK’s energy mix, being the least expensive form of new power generation and simultaneously enhancing energy security through a reduced dependence on imported energy.

Coriolis and ESB state that they plan to create an industry-leading yearly Community Benefit Fund of £8,000 per MW for the longevity of the wind farm’s operation.

There are also explorations into potential options for people to own a stake in the Foel Fach Wind Farm.

This is part of a pledge by Coriolis and ESB to comply with the Welsh Government's expectation for all upcoming energy projects to have a degree of local and shared ownership.

Clare Dance, the project development manager for Foel Fach Wind Farm said: "We are at the early stages of developing our planning application for Foel Fach and our initial assessments indicate that this is a good site for a wind farm.

"Foel Fach would make a significant contribution to achieving Welsh Government's net-zero targets.

"We also have plans to improve habitats on the site to support biodiversity."

She also hinted at public consultation and discussions with interest groups, companies, and contractors for potential job and contract opportunities.

Efforts for people to own a share in the wind farm in exchange for savings on electricity bills were also mentioned.

It's expected that Coriolis and ESB will hold an initial public consultation on the proposed Foel Fach Wind Farm in autumn 2024, with the statutory pre-application consultation commencing in spring 2025.

The planning application to PEDW should be submitted later in 2025, with a decision from the Welsh ministers expected in 2026.