RWE has secured a development consent order from the UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, for its Awel y Môr offshore wind farm, to be located north of the Welsh coast.
The offshore wind farm is being developed by RWE in a joint venture with partners including Stadtwerke München and Siemens Financial Services, each holding 30% and 10% stakes, respectively.
Awel y Môr offshore wind farm will be located next to the 576MW Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm.
It is expected to be completed before 2030 and will generate enough clean energy to power 500,000 homes.
During its construction and operational phases, the wind farm could create hundreds of skilled jobs, both directly and across the supply chain.
RWE noted that securing the development consent order was the accumulation of more than five years of work.
The company is now waiting to receive the necessary marine licence from Natural Resources Wales to further move the project towards construction.
Earlier this month, RWE signed an agreement with the Crown Estate on a lease for an offshore transmission corridor.
Although the exact capacity of the wind farm has not been determined yet, Awel y Môr could feature up to 50 turbines with a maximum height of 332m.
Once operational, it is expected to become the largest renewable energy project in Wales.
RWE Awel y Môr project lead Tamsyn Rowe 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.
“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.”
Presently, RWE is working to build a local supply chain so that the immediate region and the wider UK can benefit from the wind farm’s investment.
