Welsh politicians visit Statkraft’s Rheidol hydropower plant during anniversary year

Statkraft has welcomed politicians from the Senedd and House of Commons to its Rheidol hydropower plant, which is celebrating 60 years since its official opening during 2024.

Rheidol, located near Aberystwyth covers 162 square kilometres and is made up of an interconnected group of reservoirs, dams, tunnels, aqueducts, and power stations. The site generates enough electricity each year to power the equivalent of 40,000 homes with clean, green electricity, and is the largest of its kind in England and Wales.

The team based at Rheidol also operates Statkraft’s UK and Ireland Control Centre, which manages its other renewable power generation projects, including wind and solar farms, as well as grid stability and battery sites helping balance Great Britain’s electricity grid. Statkraft also works in partnership with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to encourage biodiversity across the plant site, as well as supporting the breeding of local salmon and trout in the reservoirs.

Cefin Campbell MS and Ben Lake MP, who both represent Plaid Cymru, were given a tour of the site by Dennis Geyermann, Statkraft’s VP of Operations and Maintenance. He introduced them to some of the people who are at the core of Statkraft’s activities at Rheidol, working in health and safety, operational, and technical roles.

Statkraft has a long history of investment in Wales’ renewable energy transition. Aside from Rheidol, which was acquired in 2009, Statkraft owns and operates Alltwalis wind farm in Carmarthenshire, which has generated over £1 million in funding for community projects, including improving local community buildings and services. Later in 2024, construction will also begin at Swansea Greener Grid Park, a pioneering electricity grid stability and balancing scheme, enabling more Welsh renewables to connect to the grid.

Current and future projects represent a planned investment of up to £400 million in Wales, supporting the drive towards net zero and energy independence, create local jobs, strengthen supply chains, provide community benefits, and encourage biodiversity on the land where our projects operate.

Cefin Campbell MS, Plaid Cymru MS for Mid and West Wales, said: “As part of the energy transition in Wales, it’s important we highlight sites both generating renewable power and actively investing in our rural communities. That’s why I’ve been pleased to visit Rheidol as it marks six decades since it officially entered operation. Statkraft’s team here have done an excellent job utilising local companies to service the plant and also providing onsite training opportunities for young people locally.”

Ben Lake MP, Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion, said: “As the energy transition moves ahead, renewable technology is becoming one of Wales’ most important driving forces of inward investment. I welcome Statkraft’s ongoing commitment to Rheidol and its plans to locate the latest renewable technologies in Wales over this decade, maximising clean power for Welsh homes and businesses. This is how we will ensure the energy transition takes people with it as we push to deliver a just energy transition.”

Dennis Geyermann, Statkraft’s VP of Operations and Maintenance said: “I’m really grateful to Cefin Campbell and Ben Lake for taking the time to visit Rheidol, especially when we’re marking such a significant milestone this year. I’m very proud of our role supporting skilled renewable energy jobs in a rural part of Wales, and as the home of our Control Centre, as well as a hydropower scheme, which has become part of the landscape. 

“We’ve got an exciting pipeline of projects here in Wales and the opportunity to create more local highly skilled jobs. I’m looking forward to seeing the importance of this site grow in the years ahead.”