RWE Renewables 海角视频 has confirmed an 'Agreement for Lease' has been secured with The Crown Estate for the extension of Gwynt y M么r Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of North Wales.
RWE want to build Awel y M么r just over 10km off the coast of Llandudno and Colwyn Bay.
It could include up to 107 wind turbines and the plans have shown the potential maximum height of the turbine tip could be over 330 metres - a touch taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The project partners are now confirmed and include聽RWE (60%), Stadtwerke M眉nchen (30%) and Siemens鈥 financing arm, Siemens Financial Services (10%).
RWE, is once again leading the development of the project on behalf of the project partners.聽
Awel y M么r Offshore Wind Farm has secured an Agreement for Lease with The Crown Estate for an area of seabed around聽106km聽to the west of the existing Gwynt y M么r Wind Farm.聽
A Development Consent Order(DCO) application for the scheme will be made and the 海角视频 Secretary of State聽for Business,聽Energy聽and Industrial Strategy would make any final decision.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: 鈥淚 was very pleased to learn about the plans for Awel y M么r Offshore Wind Farm when I had the opportunity to visit Gwynt y M么r last year.
"This announcement brings the project a step closer to development and realising both the energy-generating potential of the site, together with the creation of more jobs in the local economy and in the supply chain.鈥
Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn, Chair of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board said: 鈥淭he energy sector here in North Wales is integral to our economy and this project will further strengthen the region鈥檚 status as a leading location for low carbon energy generation.
"It鈥檚 a great example of partner collaboration and investment and we are heartened by RWE鈥檚 ongoing commitment to supporting local jobs and supply chain opportunities.鈥
But Aberconwy AM Janet Finch-Saunders said: "I have previously worked with thousands of residents and business owners to oppose windfarms off the north Wales coast.聽 My objection remains firm.
鈥淭he tourist sector in Conwy is facing complete collapse this year due to the First Minister鈥檚 threat to keep Wales largely closed to tourists this summer, and now we learn that there could be Eiffel tower sized wind聽turbines聽off the coast.
"That鈥檚 double the size of the existing聽turbines, and impacting again on the vista and natural horizon of Llandudno bay. The season just couldn鈥檛 get much worse!
鈥淪uch a scar on the landscape could have a detrimental impact on Llandudno which is already suffering more than enough as a result of Covid-19.
鈥淚 am all for green energy, but we need a mix of technologies, not more windfarms.聽
"What I want to see is a North Wales Tidal Lagoon, which would have the added advantage of strengthening our sea defences, and potentially lead to the removal of the quarry stones dump on north shore.
鈥淚 encourage RWE to wipe the slate clean and come forward with some hydro proposals instead."
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Awel y M么r Project Manager, Tamsyn Rowe said: 鈥淲e built North Hoyle off the coast of Wales which was the 海角视频鈥檚 first large scale offshore wind farm, and later developed and built Rhyl Flats.
"RWE has also successfully built and now operates the 拢2billion Gwynt y M么r Offshore Wind Farm which supports over 100 local jobs. We are now excited to be working on its sister project, Awel y M么r which could not only support the 海角视频鈥檚 target to bring greenhouse gases to net zero but also create significant supply chain opportunities and help boost the Welsh economy.
鈥淲hilst the project is an extension of the existing Gwynt y M么r Wind Farm it will be progressed on its own merit as a nationally significant infrastructure energy project. Over the coming months, we will start development and planning activities where possible and in line with Government guidance.鈥
