A high-tech eco farmhouse, which SSE helped create, has been given the stamp of approval by the Welsh Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Alun Davies.
The Minister joined the Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council and SSE representatives at the new home of farmer Arthur Davies and his family at Maes Yr Onn, in Manmoel this week.
The property, the first of its kind in Wales, is completely sustainable and located on a site which is off the electricity, gas and water grids and therefore needs to be self-sufficient in its energy use.
SSE worked closely with Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Sustainable Development Team, Building Research Establishment and the Davies family to design and build the sustainable modern farmhouse.
The house features a number of sustainable technologies including solar photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, a biomass boiler, thermal stores and innovative skirting board heating.
Speaking at the farm, the Minister said: "I am delighted to celebrate the launch of such an exciting and innovative project.
"At a time when household incomes are being squeezed and the cost of energy continues to rise, it is good to see an increase in the uptake of renewable technologies here in Wales.
"I congratulate the Davies family, Caerphilly County Borough Council and all the other partners involved in building such an exemplary sustainable building that shows exactly what can be achieved through working in partnership."
Jo Horrigan, SSE National Development Director in Wales, added: "This exciting project will showcase the benefits of using sustainable, renewable technology in the home. It will also provide insight into how the technologies interact, as well as how the user adapts their behaviour to the challenges of living off-grid."
The Davies family are now settled into living life off-grid and have been monitoring their energy usage since moving into the property. An energy monitoring scheme is now in place to help the family to live as sustainably as possible and learn best practice for future projects.