The grant money, awarded through the Government’s Low Carbon Community Challenge, will be spent on measures to cut carbon, save money on energy bills, and could even see some communities make cash from generating their own energy.

Wales winners are:

Cwmclydach, nr Pontypridd, South Wales: Blaenclydach is a former mining village and is one of the most deprived areas in Wales. The money from LCCC will help pay for two small hydro turbines in the nearby Cambrian Country Park which will power two community buildings and, under the government’s Clean Energy Cashback scheme, will generate an income for the community.

Awel Aman Tawe Community Wind Farm in Upper Amman and Swansea Valley, South Wales: Fuel poverty is a major concern for the 13,500 people living in the 12 villages spread across Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Powys. Planning consent has been secured to put two wind turbines with a capacity of 4MW on the Mynydd y Gwrhyd mountain, so the LCCC money will help towards the costs.

This will generate enough electricity to supply the annual needs of about 2000 homes and generate an income for the community as a whole through the Government’s clean energy cashback scheme. The community also has plans to open a zero carbon cafe, allotments and a biodiesel pump in the headquarters car park which can be used by members of the public.

Glogue, Hermon and Llanfyrnach, nr Preselli Hills, Pembrokeshire: The LCCC money will be used to fund two wind turbines which are calculated to generate around £300,000 per year to be ploughed back into further energy saving projects.