Bute Energy has appointed ERM to support development of the Lan Fawr Energy Park, a proposed onshore wind project of up to 368.5MW in Mid Wales. ERM will lead the environmental impact assessment and strategic communications programme as the project moves through planning.

Bute Energy is a privately owned renewable energy developer headquartered in Wales and part of Windward Energy Group, with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners holding a significant minority equity stake. ERM describes itself as the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, with more than 8,000 experts in 40 countries and territories and over 50 years of experience. It has already produced the project’s Scoping Report.

The structural driver is developers securing specialist assessment capacity as onshore wind projects move into consenting. Lan Fawr is among the first projects brought forward under Wales’ new infrastructure consenting regime, and could comprise up to 55 wind turbines.

The appointment sits within a wind market that, by 2025, had more than 12,000 turbines and 32GW of installed capacity across the UK, split evenly between 16GW onshore and 16GW offshore. Wind generated over 85TWh that year, almost 30% of Great Britain’s total generation.

James Milner-Smith, Bute Energy’s development director, said “Lan Fawr Energy Park is an important part of our ambition to help build a healthier, wealthier Wales powered by clean, home-grown renewable energy.” He said the project has the potential to create jobs, support local businesses, invest in skills and provide long-term funding for community priorities through a community benefit fund.

Nick Hilton, capital project delivery lead for EMEA at ERM, said “as the energy transition accelerates, developers must navigate increasingly complex environmental, regulatory and stakeholder considerations.” He said the appointment reflects the relationship built with Bute Energy during early project development and the collaborative approach behind ERM’s work to date.

For the sector, Lan Fawr shows onshore wind developers lining up consultancies to lead assessment and community engagement early, as projects enter new consenting routes.