Name and Location
Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm project, offshore Wales, UK.
Client
RWE Innogy, Stadwerke München and Siemens, with the UK Green Investment Bank expected to take up a further share once the wind farm is complete.
Project Description
The 576 MW Gwynt y Môr is being constructed 13 km off the North Wales coast, in water depths of between 12 m and 18 m, and is one of the largest offshore wind farms currently under construction in Europe.
Construction works are divided among onshore and offshore works, as well as port activity.
Onshore works include the installation of an 11 km cable route to carry electricity generated from the wind farm from the shore to a new substation and the construction of a new 132/400 kV substation at St Asaph business park to load electricity into the national grid distribution network.
Offshore works include the installation of 160 steel monopile foundations and transition pieces, the construction of one-hundred-and-sixty 3.6 MW wind turbines and generators, as well as two offshore substations, interarray cabling and the installation of export cabling to shore.
Once fully operational, the wind farm will be capable of generating enough energy from home-grown wind sources to power the equivalent of about 400 000 homes.
Value
The project represents an investment of €2-billion in the UK and European offshore wind industry.
Duration
Full operation of the wind farm is expected in 2015. Construction started in January 2012.
Latest Developments
The final array cable has been installed at the Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm, completing the construction phase of the project. The project is now progressing towards its ultimate milestone – the final commissioning and operation of the remaining 41 turbines.
The 161st cable was installed by UK-based Reef Subsea using its two specialist cable laying vessels, Polar Prince and Polar King.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
Siemens (wind turbines).
On Budget and on Time?
The project is on time.
Contact Details for Project Information
RWE Innogy, tel +44 8456/720090 or fax +44 8456/720050.