Survey vessels to begin work on Awel y Môr off the coast of north Wales
Offshore surveys for the Awel y Môr wind farm off the north Wales coast are to begin imminently, energy company RWE has confirmed.
The work is the first major contract placed by RWE on the project since it was awarded a Contract for Difference in this year’s UK government renewables auction.
Two contractors, GEO and TGS, will carry out the surveys.
They will map the seabed and analyse its geology across the 78 square kilometre area where the wind farm would sit, and along the export cable route that would come ashore between Rhyl and Prestatyn.
The data will inform final design decisions ahead of offshore construction, which RWE has said is currently planned to begin in 2029.
Before that point, the company must take a final investment decision on the project.
Onshore construction would follow in 2027 with an onshore substation, with the cable route work scheduled for 2028.
Jo Pickard, senior consents manager for RWE, said: “This additional survey data will enable the team to make design refinements and fine tune our methods for offshore construction, which is currently planned to begin in 2029.
“Our next step is to reach a final investment decision.
“Onshore construction is planned to begin in 2027 with the onshore substation, followed by the cable route in 2028.
“We will of course keep all relevant stakeholders informed and updated as our plans progress.”
RWE says that, once built, Awel y Môr would be capable of generating power equivalent to 22.5 per cent of Wales’ current annual energy use, a figure based on the company’s own calculation.
The geotechnical work will build on earlier survey data and research previously carried out at Bangor University.
RWE is developing the project with partners Stadtwerke München, which holds a 30 per cent stake, and Siemens Financial Services, with a 10 per cent share.
Awel y Môr would not be the company’s first project off the north Wales coast.
RWE was the developer of the North Hoyle wind farm, one of the UK’s earliest commercial offshore developments, which began generating more than 20 years ago.
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