The most recent newsletter for the Awel y Môr windfarm has just been published. You can access it from the Awel y Môr website here. This newsletter has been published to encourage participation in the “Marine Licence” part of the consenting process for the project. The content of the newsletter is summarised briefly below.
Consenting Process Update
The proposed windfarm will require consent from both the UK and Welsh Governments. Although the consenting processes will run in parallel, there are some differences in timescales and opportunities for getting involved, outlined below.
Welsh Government: Marine Licence
The windfarm will require a “Marine Licence” from the Welsh Government. In Welsh Territorial waters, Marine Licences are issued by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on behalf of the Welsh Government.
The application for a Marine Licence was submitted on 30th May, and the initial “validation” process was completed on 20th June. The consultation process for the Marine Licence will now run from 6th July-17th August 2022.
If you wish to make any representations or objections in respect of this licence, they should be made in either of the following ways:-
- On the NRW website at https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/permitting-caniatau/awel-y-mor-offshore-wind-farm-eng/ or https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/permitting-caniatau/copy-of-awel-y-mor-offshore-wind-farm-cy/; or
- By post to the Marine Licensing Team, Cardiff Permitting Service, Natural Resources Wales, 29 Newport Road, Cambria House, Cardiff, CF24 0TP, quoting reference ORML2233.
The marine licence application documents submitted by the Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm can be accessed on the project website here.
In your response you are asked to include an e-mail or postal address to which correspondence may be sent.
UK Government: Development Consent Order
As well as a Marine Licence (described above), the project will require a “Development Consent Order” (DCO), issued by the UK Secretary of State for Energy after being scrutinised by the UK Planning Inspectorate.
Full details of the planning process and the steps involved are provided in our last update here. Key points are:-
- You can register as an “Interested Party” for updates on the DCO application process on the Planning Inspectorate website here. The deadline for this is 6th July 2022.
- You can also request a physical copy of the registration form by phone (call the Planning Inspectorate on 0303-444-5000 quoting “Awel y Môr” and the reference number ENO010112)
Registration is free and will ensure that you are kept informed about each step in the process.
About the proposed windfarm
If approved, the Awel y Môr windfarm would be built around six miles off the North Wales coast, to the west of the existing Gwynt y Môr windfarm. Awel y Môr would be connected to the National Grid by an export cable coming ashore between Rhyl and Prestatyn. The proposed windfarm would include up to 50 wind turbines. It could generate enough power for up to half a million homes, and it will be the largest renewable energy investment in Wales in this decade.
Full project details and maps of the windfarm location are available at the project website awelymor.cymru.