The South Wales football club that runs on water

Throughout Wales, many football clubs are switching to renewable energy – but how many can claim to have their own hydroelectric plant?

Cambrian United FC’s clubhouse and café is powered entirely by the Nant Clydach stream. As water flows down through the nearby lake, it passes into a generator owned by the Cambrian Village Trust. The turbine produces clean electricity for the club, saving money on bills and lowering its greenhouse gas emissions.

A hub for the community

The Cambrian Village Trust was set up in 2001 to provide football opportunities for local children. As well as owning the club, it supports the small Rhondda community of Clydach Vale.

Many of its activities centre on the Lakeside Café Bar, a popular spot for visitors to Clydach Vale Country Park. Its shop has eliminated plastic packaging to help the environment, and promotes local suppliers – from jam and honey producers to slate engravers and jewellery makers.

Lots of local groups use the facilities. Operations director Phil Williams says: “It’s a true community hub. We have groups for people with dementia, and leisure activities for adults with learning disabilities. We do projects with schools and local children – actions that have a real impact.”

Across the road from the café is Cambrian United’s all-weather 3G artificial pitch. Phil says: “The pitch has recently had £750,000 in investment from the FAW, local authority and Welsh Government. We’ve created a community gym, new changing rooms and space for physiotherapy. It’s kitted out so that everyone can participate in fitness activities.”

Power for the people

Few visitors to the country park notice the small waterside building that’s home to the hydroelectric generator. “We’ve got a direct feed from there to the clubhouse facilities,” says Phil. “It supplies all the electricity on site, and charges three batteries.”

The club has plans to make even greater use of water power. With support from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, it hopes to build a second hydroelectric plant to benefit the wider community. Phil explains: “That’s a much bigger scheme, which would power a local comprehensive school. The idea is that we’ll become part of a local energy club, and that will vastly reduce our energy costs.”

Solar power is also helping to reduce Cambrian United’s reliance on mains electricity. Through Sport Wales, the Cymru Football Foundation has invested more than £17,000 in the club. As well as installing solar panels, the club has provided places where people can charge their electric vehicles (EVs), making good use of any excess energy.

Phil says: “Our rooftops are full of photovoltaic (PV) panels, and we’ve put EV charging points at the clubhouse. We’ve installed battery storage and a charging point at the 3G site as well, with the support of the local authority.”

Plans in the pipeline

Improving the local environment is another priority, and the Village Trust have created two community gardens on their site. One area has raised beds for planting, and an outdoor classroom area for primary-school visits. There’s also a sensory garden, where people can relax on benches and enjoy the many flowers that bloom.

With space at a premium on the café site, the club is now looking to develop a new health and wellbeing educational hub at the 3G ground – all built to the same standards of sustainability. Phil says: “We’re discussing a £2 million scheme with the Football Association of Wales, the local authority and Cardiff Capital Region.

“We’d have more community space, and we’d be able to provide more classes. It would enhance our facilities for delivering skills and education – and obviously, football as well!”

Want to know more?

Discover how the Cymru Football Foundation is helping to build stronger, more sustainable community-focused clubs, and check out how Welshpool Town FC and Clarbeston Road FC are helping build a greener Wales.