Securing a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the 1100MW Awel y Môr is a “major milestone” towards delivering the offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea before 2030, according to its developer RWE.
On 20 September, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Claire Coutinho granted consent to the project off the coast of north Wales.
RWE project lead for Awel y Môr Tamsyn Rowe (pictured) 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.”
The awarding of the DCO is the culmination of more than five years of work.
The team is now awaiting the granting of the necessary marine licence from Natural Resources Wales in order to progress the project into construction.
Rowe said: “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.”
In addition to Awel y Môr, RWE is also supporting Grŵp Llandrillo Menai in the development of its new £11.2m Rhyl Campus, which will house its UK wind turbine technician apprenticeship scheme.
RWE’s director of development for UK and Ireland Danielle Lane added: “Set alongside the UK’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.
“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 Môr and our broader offshore wind portfolio represent for the UK’s supply chain and its ambitions to expand offshore wind, decarbonise the energy system and achieve net zero.”
The project will be located alongside the operational 576MW Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm.