A major offshore wind project capable of generating enough electricity to power more than half the homes in Wales has taken a significant step forward after securing a contract in the UK Government’s record-breaking renewable energy auction.
The Awel y Môr development, located in the Irish Sea off the North Wales coast, was among the successful projects in the auction announced on 14 January, which delivered the largest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British and European history.
Developer RWE is now working towards a final investment decision on the project, which will see up to 50 turbines constructed approximately 10 kilometres offshore, to the west of the existing Gwynt y Môr wind farm.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens visited the Port of Mostyn on 22 January to meet with RWE and receive an update on plans for the site.
Ms Stevens described the project as “huge news for North Wales”, saying it would deliver well-paid, highly-skilled jobs and economic growth to the local area. She added that Wales was central to the Government’s efforts to develop home-grown clean power and reduce energy bills.
Philippa Powell, RWE’s Project Lead for Awel y Môr, said the auction success represented “a major vote of confidence in the UK’s new era of energy sovereignty.”
The wider auction secured a record 8.4 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity, enough to power the equivalent of 12 million homes and putting Britain on course to meet its clean power targets by 2030. The results are expected to unlock approximately £22 billion in private investment and support around 7,000 jobs across the UK.
Ms Powell said Awel y Môr formed a key part of RWE’s commitment to investing in renewable energy in Wales, alongside the company’s Pembroke Net Zero Centre and various onshore wind and solar projects.
The Erebus project in the Celtic Sea off Pembrokeshire was also successful in the same auction round.
RWE said it would provide further updates as the Awel y Môr project progresses towards a final investment decision.
