RWE Innogy, SWM and Siemens build offshore wind farm Gwynt y Môr

RWE Innogy, Stadtwerke München (SWM – Munich Municipal Utility) and Siemens have entered into a joint venture to build the offshore wind farm Gwynt y Môr (Welsh for ‘wind in the sea’). RWE Innogy will hold a 60% stake in this joint venture, Stadtwerke München 30% and Siemens 10%. The total investment amounts to more than € 2 billion, including the grid connection to the coast. The investment will be divided between the partners accordingly. Gwynt y Môr is to be built with an installed capacity of 576MW in Liverpool Bay, around 18 kilometres off the North Wales coast. Work will start towards the end of 2011 to erect the first foundations for a total of 160 wind turbines. All permits for the wind farm covering an area of 79 square kilometres have already been obtained. Siemens will supply, install and maintain the wind turbines, and provide the connection to the grid. In its first phase of expansion, the wind farm is planned to generate electricity as early as 2013. The project is expected to be completed in 2014.