The companies RWE Innogy, Stadtwerke München and Siemens have signed a joint investment agreement for the construction project of Gwynt y Môr. This involves an investment in a two billion euro offshore wind farm located in the Liverpool Bay, 18 kilometers off the coast of North Wales.
The Gwynt y Môr wind farm, što means ‘wind in the sea’ in Welsh, will have a capacity of 576 megawatts, and when completed, it will be one of the largest wind farms in the world. A total of 160 wind turbines will be installed, and the entire wind farm will cover an area of 79 square kilometers. The installation of the first foundations for the wind turbines will begin at the end of 2011, and the entire project is expected to be completed by 2014. RWE Innogy holds 60% in the joint venture, Stadtwerke München 30%, and Siemens 10%. Siemens will supply, install, and maintain the turbines and ensure the connection to the onshore power grid. The first power plant within this wind farm is expected to be operational by 2013. After the completion of the entire project, the wind farm will produce 1,950 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to supply around 400,000 British households with electricity. The location is exceptionally favorable for the construction of the wind farm as the sea in the mentioned bay is relatively shallow, and wind speeds are very high.
