From festivals to recycling: local projects powered up across Cardiff, the Vale and Bridgend

Four organisations across Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend are set to benefit from more than £1.5 million through the latest round of Ynni Cymru funding, supporting projects in culture, community services, business and recycling while helping organisations cut energy bills and invest in their future.

The projects are among 24 organisations across Wales set to receive a share of £8.27 million through the programme's third round of funding.

In the capital, Afanti Media is helping bring cleaner power centre stage at festivals, cultural events and broadcasts across Wales. The company has been awarded £668,558 through Ynni Cymru to expand the use of battery-powered systems and reduce reliance on traditional generators.

The Cardiff-based company has already deployed its mobile battery system, Nessa, at events including Eisteddfod yr Urdd, Rhiwbina Festival Weekend, Cân i Gymru and S4C's Super Rygbi Cymru coverage.

The investment will create a more energy-efficient operating base in Cardiff, helping Afanti expand the use of battery-powered systems at events across Wales. The project aims to reduce reliance on traditional diesel-powered generators while creating quieter event spaces, reducing emissions and improving the experience for organisers, performers and visitors.

The company hopes the investment will help make cleaner power a more practical option for everything from community festivals and cultural events to major live broadcasts and sporting events.

The four projects receiving funding across Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend are:

• Afanti Media Limited, Cardiff - organisation supporting cultural events and festivals
• g39, Cardiff - arts charity supporting artists and local communities
• Amelia Methodist Trust Company Limited, Vale of Glamorgan - charity supporting young people and volunteers
• Nolan Recycling Limited, Bridgend - recycling business serving communities across south Wales

Ynni Cymru is a Welsh Government programme that helps communities, businesses and public services create and use their own clean energy. It supports projects that generate renewable energy, reduce energy bills and bring benefits to local areas.

Since launching in 2023, the programme has supported more than 80 projects across Wales. This third round of funding will provide £8.27 million to 24 organisations, including four projects across Cardiff, the Vale and Bridgend, bringing total investment through Ynni Cymru to more than £31 million.

Emyr Afan, CEO of Afanti Media, said:

“Ynni Cymru is helping us turn innovation into real-world impact.

“We want organisers to be able to choose battery power with confidence, whether they are delivering a community festival, celebrating culture or broadcasting live sport.

“This investment will help us put that innovation to work at events across Wales.”

Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, said:

“I'm delighted that organisations across Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend are benefiting from this latest round of Ynni Cymru funding.

“These projects demonstrate the wide-ranging benefits that clean energy can deliver, whether that's helping provide cleaner power for cultural events and broadcasts, supporting charities working in their communities or enabling businesses to reduce costs and invest in their future.

“Ynni Cymru is delivering the Welsh Government's vision for greener, cheaper energy, owned and used by people and communities across Wales.”