A £46.5m civil engineering contract has been awarded for infrastructure works on the 45 MW Carno III Wind Farm in Powys, marking the first major new wind development in mid Wales for almost a decade.
The last wind farm in mid Wales to become fully operational was Garreg Lwyd, located between Llandrindod Wells and Newtown, which began generating electricity in spring 2017.
Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK has been appointed principal contractor by Carno 3 LLP, a joint venture between Amegni Renewables and Gresham House. Construction is already under way, with the 10-turbine project scheduled for completion in autumn 2027.
The wider development has a price tag of more than £100m and is expected to avoid approximately 65,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
A substantial part of Jones Bros’ contract involves strengthening the region’s electricity infrastructure. The contractor will install 20km of underground cable between Welshpool substation and a connection point south of Abermule, reinforcing the existing 132 kV network operated by SP Energy Networks.
The works also include turbine foundations, an on-site substation and control building, cabling, 9km of new and upgraded access tracks and highway improvements for turbine deliveries.
“It’s a landmark moment for mid Wales after a lengthy period without any new significant wind farm developments,” said Jones Bros senior contract manager Rhys Roberts.
The company has previous links to the site, having acted as principal contractor for Carno II in 2009. Roberts described the latest award as “something of a full circle moment” and Jones Bros’ highest-value wind farm contract in Wales.
For Amegni, the project is also intended to demonstrate the local economic potential of renewable development. More than £50m of contracts have reportedly been awarded to Welsh businesses and individuals.
Amegni director Sion Thomas said Carno III showed how renewable investment could deliver “meaningful local economic benefits”.
Once complete, Carno III will join the existing Carno I and II projects, bringing the three locally operated wind farms to almost 100 MW across 78 turbines.
