Gwynt y Môr wind farm construction to begin off Flintshire coast in new year

Dec 1 2011 by Francesca Elliott, Flintshire Chronicle

CONSTRUCTION of the new Gwynt y Môr wind farm off the coast of Mostyn will begin early next year.

The site will be one of the largest in Europe and is 13km offshore, with 160 turbines producing 576 MW of energy from the wind, two offshore substations, a large new onshore substation and 11km of underground cabling.

Port of Mostyn will be the maintenance base for the two-billion-euro wind farm project, creating 100 skilled jobs.

It is expected to produce energy equivalent to the annual needs of 400,000 homes.

Toby Edmonds, project director for Gwynt y Môr, said: “We’ll begin construction in early 2012 and this will be marked by a rise in the number of vessels travelling in and out of Liverpool Bay.

“Shortly after preparation of the seabed, known as scour protection, will begin ahead of the installation of monopile foundations.”

Onshore work for Gwynt y Môr has begun near St Asaph, with preparations for a substation to link the wind farm to the National Grid distribution network.

For further details, visit www.rwe.com/gwyntymor or call 0845 026 0587.