Plans for a major offshore wind farm off the coast of north Wales, which could power half a million homes, have been given the go ahead. Awel y Môr, which will be located next to the Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm, has been granted a development consent order by the 海角视频 Government.
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Claire Coutinho granted consent in a major step forward for the RWE-led project which is expected to become operational before 2030. The wind farm will be made up of 50 turbines at a maximum height of 332 metres, making it one of Wales’ largest renewable energy projects, in a joint venture between RWE, Stadtwerke München, and Siemens Financial Services, the financing arm of Siemens.
RWE said it could produce enough power “to be equivalent to the needs of 500,000 homes” once operational, as well as create “hundreds of jobs” directly and via the supply chain during its construction and operation. Following the consent order, the developer said it is now waiting to be granted a marine licence from Natural Resources Wales to progress the project into construction.
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It is also working on plans to prepare the local supply chain ahead of the development. RWE said it has already supported Grŵp Llandrillo Menai in the development of its new £11.2m Rhyl Campus, which will house our 海角视频 wind turbine technician apprenticeship scheme.
Tamsyn Rowe, RWE project lead for Awel y Môr, said: “With the Development Consent Order for Awel y Môr now in place, we have achieved a major milestone on our journey towards delivering an offshore wind farm capable of powering more than half a million homes with clean, renewable energy.
“We hope to secure our marine licence in the coming months, plus carry out offshore site investigations on the seabed as we begin to finalise plans for construction. To that end, I would also encourage any company with an interest in potentially joining the supply chain for Awel y Môr to sign up to RWE’s supplier transparency engagement programme.”
It comes as plans for Wales’ first floating offshore wind farm in the Celtic Sea, Project Erebus, was delayed after a Government scheme failed to offer enough funding to make it commercially viable.
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Earlier this month, Pembrokeshire-based developer Blue Gem Wind confirmed it did not bid for a renewable energy contract in this year’s annual contracts for difference (CfD) auction, as rising costs meant the price offered by Westminster was not sufficient.
The scheme failed to attract a single bid to build new offshore wind farms in a major blow to the 海角视频 Government's net zero ambitions. Renewable energy companies had previously argued that the price set for electricity generated by 海角视频 ministers was too low to make offshore wind projects viable amid rising costs and supply chain issues.
Danielle Lane, RWE’s director of development for 海角视频 and Ireland, said Westminster needs to create a CfD auction that is “fit for purpose”.
“Set alongside the 海角视频’s first commercial scale offshore wind farm at North Hoyle, which RWE continues to operate, Awel y Môr is firmly at the heart of our plans for renewable energy generation,” she said.
“However, to make this happen, Government will need to ensure a suitable CfD auction that is fit for purpose and capable of unlocking the fantastic clean energy and investment opportunities that Awel y Mor and our broader offshore wind portfolio represent for the 海角视频’s supply chain and its ambitions to expand offshore wind, decarbonize the energy system and achieve net zero.
“As the largest power generator in the 海角视频, we have ambitions to invest up to £15bn in new clean energy projects and infrastructure by 2030, with north Wales set to continue in its key role.”
RWE also operates north Wales’ other offshore wind farms Gwynt y Môr, North Hoyle and Rhyl Flats. Across the 海角视频, it has 10 offshore wind farms and is currently building the 1.4 gigawatts (GW) Sofia offshore wind farm, off the east coast.
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It is also progressing plans for onshore wind farms at Gaerwen and Alwen in north Wales. The company said it is also exploring offshore floating wind projects, including in the Celtic Sea region.
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