DEVELOPERS of two new wind turbines in Oakdale are celebrating the completion of the project which will generate enough green electricity a year to power 2,000 homes.

The 25-year scheme by renewable energy developer Partnerships for Renewables (PfR), located on Caerphilly council-owned land at Oakdale Business Park, could provide £250,000 to be spent locally over the course of the scheme.

The two Senvion MM100 50-metre blade turbines, the first of its model type to be installed in Britain, will generate eight gigawatt hours of green electricity a year.

The scheme was granted planning permission by Caerphilly council in 2011 and construction work began in July last year. The turbine components were delivered to site five months later, with both turbines put up, and the grid connections energised, by the start of this year.

Since then commissioning and testing of the turbines has been taking place.

PfR say, as well as contributing to nationally important targets for renewable energy generation and climate change reduction, the Oakdale Wind Energy project will provide significant local community benefits.

PfR has set up a Community Benefit Fund that will provide £10,000 every year for the lifetime of the wind farm for investment in local projects, to be administered by Caerphilly council.

Consultations were held last year where members of PfR were present to answer questions from residents or businesses on the construction programme and the wider project.

Ken James, Caerphilly council’s cabinet member for regeneration, sustainable development and planning, said: “The completion of this flagship development, together with Partnerships for Renewables, reflects the council’s commitment to sustainability and to finding cleaner, greener ways to produce energy.

“This project will provide a significant boost to the area and further enhance the business parks’ strategic importance in the area.”

Simon Vince, construction director for PfR, added: “The Oakdale project clearly shows the value of working closely with a public sector body on suitable land for onshore wind production.

“The project demonstrates PfR’s commitment to local procurement with as much as 58 per cent of the total civil engineering spend on roads, access and crane pads going to local companies.”

Details of the Community Benefit Fund and the application process will be shown on the PfR website and the Caerphilly council website in due course.