Welsh Secretary: North Wales offshore wind project will bring jobs and growth

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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A major offshore wind project off the coast of North Wales is expected to support jobs and economic growth in the region, according to Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens MP.

The Awel y Môr offshore wind farm, being developed by energy company RWE in the Irish Sea, was among the projects to secure a contract in the UK Government’s latest renewables auction.

Stevens visited the Port of Mostyn to meet RWE representatives and discuss plans for the project, which will be located around 10km off the North Wales coast, to the west of the existing Gwynt y Môr wind farm.

Once fully constructed, Awel y Môr is expected to comprise up to 50 turbines.

Speaking during the visit, the Secretary of State for Wales said: “The development of the Awel y Môr project is huge news for North Wales and will deliver more well-paid, highly-skilled jobs and growth to the local area.

“The UK Government is working with investors to develop home-grown clean power which will secure our energy supply and bring down bills for good.

“Wales is at the centre of this and projects like Awel y Môr will help us achieve those goals.”

Philippa Powell, RWE’s project lead for Awel y Môr, said: “Following our success in the most recent CfD auction round, it was a pleasure to be able to update the Secretary of State for Wales on our plans for Awel y Môr for the coming year, as we work towards a final investment decision.

“Capable of powering more than half the homes in Wales once fully realised, Awel y Môr represents a key part in RWE’s commitment to investing in renewable energy here in Wales, alongside the Pembroke Net Zero Centre, and our onshore wind and solar projects.”

The latest auction round has been described by the UK Government as the largest single procurement of offshore wind capacity in British and European history.

In total, it secured 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity, enough to generate clean electricity for the equivalent of 12 million homes.

Alongside Awel y Môr, the Erebus floating wind project in the Celtic Sea off the coast of Pembrokeshire also secured a contract in the auction.