United Kingdom – The Awel y Môr offshore wind farm, which could power up to 500,000 homes, has reached a major milestone after proposals were submitted to the UK Planning Inspectorate and accepted for consideration.
The project, which is being developed on behalf of the project’s partners by RWE Renewables, is now in the ‘pre-examination’ stage of the consenting process, with a public examination set to begin in September 2022.
The project, which is a sister project to Gwynt y Môr, will include up to 50 turbines with a maximum tip height of 332m. If approved, the Awel y Môr offshore wind farm would be built approximately 10.5 kilometers off the coast of north Wales, to the west of the existing Gwynt y Môr wind farm, with a grid connection planned to reach the Rhyl-Prestatyn shoreline.
Final decision
The UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will make the final decision on consent, which is expected in 2023. Due to the project’s location in Welsh waters, a Marine License from the Welsh Government’s Natural Resources Wales is also required. Awel y Môr is being developed by RWE, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, in collaboration with project partners Stadtwerke München (30%) and Siemens Financial Services (10%).
Offshore wind is one of the UK’s fastest-growing industries, and the Awel y Môr scheme will help North Wales attract more investment in this sector, creating significant jobs and supply chain opportunities.
