West Wales powers up with clean energy investment

Seven organisations across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion are set to benefit from £2.75 million through the latest round of Ynni Cymru funding, helping community organisations, charities and local energy groups reduce energy costs and invest more in the people and places they serve.

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.

A charity and animal sanctuary in Carmarthenshire is among seven west Wales projects set to benefit from the latest round of funding through Ynni Cymru.

Skanda Vale, near Llanpumsaint, has proved that the benefits of renewable energy can be anything but small. Home to rescued animals, including its well-known Asian elephants named Valli and Bala, the charity has been awarded £251,545 to install battery storage and public electric vehicle charging points, helping it make better use of the renewable energy it already generates.

Earlier Ynni Cymru funding helped the charity install a wind turbine, which works alongside an existing solar array. Together, the systems have cut electricity bills from around £1,000 a week to almost zero, saving more than £40,000 a year.

As a charity, Skanda Vale reinvests savings into free community services, including meals, accommodation, retreats and its Bwyd o Skanda food aid project, which distributed 98 tonnes of food through partner organisations in 2025. Around 100,000 people visit the site each year, and the latest funding will help ensure those services can continue during power cuts and severe weather.

The seven west Wales projects receiving funding are:

• Renewable Power Pembrokeshire, Pembroke Dock - organisation helping local communities develop renewable energy projects.
• Clarbeston Road Memorial Hall, Pembrokeshire - community hall.
• Clynfyw, Pembrokeshire - organisation providing homes and support for adults with learning disabilities.
• Mandala Yoga Ashram, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire - wellbeing and retreat centre.
• Carmarthenshire Energy Ltd (Ynni Sir Gar), Carmarthen - organisation developing renewable energy projects in local communities.
• The Community of the Many Names of God (Skanda Vale), Carmarthenshire - charity and animal sanctuary.
• Ynni Bro Rhian Cyfyngedig, Ceredigion - organisation helping local communities generate and use renewable energy.

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 help lower 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 seven projects in west Wales, bringing total investment through Ynni Cymru to more than £31 million.

Collette Sanders, of Big Bocs Bwyd Llandeilo, said:

“We have benefited greatly from dry goods such as rice, tea and pulses supplied by Skanda Vale in the past, for which we and our visitors are very grateful.

“Over the past year, those donations have helped us support more than 1,000 visits to our facility.

“I know that this investment will directly strengthen the local food support network at a time when our communities most need it.”

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

“I'm delighted that organisations across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion are benefiting from this latest round of Ynni Cymru funding.

“These projects show how clean energy can deliver real benefits for local people, whether that's supporting community halls, helping charities continue vital services or enabling organisations to reinvest savings into the people they serve.

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