Ynni Ogwen Cyf is a recently installed community hydro scheme generating electricity using water from the Ogwen river near Bethesda in Gwynedd.
The scheme has a 100 kw capacity and will produce around 500,000kwh of power each year reducing carbon emissions by 245 tonnes of Co2 annually.
The money to develop the scheme came from a community share offer which raised £459,600 in two months of which 85 per cent came from the local area. Much of this investment came back into the local economy as the project was able to employ local people working for contractors in Gwynedd and a project manager from Bethesda itself.
Grŵp Cynefin has invested £25,000 in the venture and has been offering ongoing support as the project develops.
It is are also supporting the Energy Local project which is being developed alongside the hydro. This sells power generated by local hydro schemes directly to residents thus reducing their electricity bills, as well as providing a better price for the generators than that which they currently get from selling direct to the grid.
As a result of both projects it is estimated that at least £450,000 profit will be reinvested into community and environmental projects locally over the next 20 years.
