Wales is now home to the second biggest offshore wind farm in the world, following the opening of the 160-turbine Gwynt y Mor.
The Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones AM, was in attendance for the official launch of this facility, and he was joined by the Chief Executive Officer for RWE, Peter Terium.
When operating at their full capacity, which is in part due to using suitable lubricants like Mobil SHC Gear 220, the turbines at Gwynt y Mor are able to generate sufficient energy for over 400,000 households in the UK, the equivalent of one third of Welsh homes.
Amber Rudd MP, the Climate Change and Energy Secretary, stated that the offshore wind farm in North Wales would not only be a valuable source of green energy, but would also create 100 jobs for skilled engineers in the area, adding:
“Gwynt y Mor has a key role to play in our long-term plan to develop a secure energy mix in this country that is diverse and home grown. There really is no better place in the world to invest in offshore wind.”
This facility has come about through a combined investment in excess of £2bn, with Siemens having provided 10% of this funding. Meanwhile, Stadtwerke Munchen GmbH was responsible for another 30%, with RWE Innogy being the largest investor at 60%.
Gwynt y Mor’s maintenance and operations base, which was constructed at a cost of £3.6m, is located on the North Wales coast at Port of Mostyn, and it was here that the official opening took place.
