Welcome to this Spring edition of the Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm newsletter.

Having secured our route to market, the project team is growing rapidly as we work towards the start of construction in 2027. 

As well as beginning an extensive offshore survey campaign in May, the team has been busy engaging with the supply chain and attending the recent Marine Energy Wales conference in Llandudno. 

In addition to speaking to businesses and organisations working across the sector and presenting several panel discussions, we were also able to sponsor the attendance of 20 students from Welsh Universities, enabling them to network and meet potential future employers. 

We were also able to introduce a new tool as part of our Supplier Transparency Engagement Programme which allows those businesses which will not directly contract with the project to more easily find their place within that supply chain. 

If you’d like to contact the team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch either by email or by phone, details of which are on the project website: www.awelymor.cymru

The Awel y Môr team at Marine Energy Wales, held at Venue Cymru 

The team behind the Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm has supported students from Welsh universities including Bangor, Aberystwyth and Swansea to attend the country’s biggest marine energy conference. 

Twenty students on courses related to renewables and the marine environment from Welsh universities attended the conference, enabling them to network with potential employers in relevant industries and speak to experienced professionals. 

Students were also able to attend an early careers panel discussion sponsored by the Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, for which one of the speakers was Isobel Emery, a consents manager for Awel y Môr who previously undertook a year in industry placement as part of her studies. 

Isobel Emery speaking on an early careers panel at Marine Energy Wales 2026 

Isobel is working across a wide range of planning consent topics required by the project’s Development Consent Order, including onshore, offshore and skills and employment. 

Isobel said: “Awel y Môr represents a huge opportunity for Wales, and I was pleased to be able to share my experience of entering this rapidly growing industry on such a significant project with students who are also really keen on finding employment within the renewables sector. 

“There are many paths into working in renewable energy, with a wide range of skills and qualifications needed, from the highly skilled technicians who keep the power flowing to those working on developing new infrastructure. 

“Those skills are in demand from a wide range of businesses here in Wales, not just those directly developing and running sites like RWE, but also in vessel providers, equipment manufacturers, ecologists, archaeologists or logistics specialists.” 

The annual Marine Energy Wales conference brings together developers and supply chain companies working across wind, tidal and other marine energy areas working in Wales, and is delivered by the Marine Energy Wales organisation. 

Jay Sheppard, Senior Project Manager at Marine Energy Wales, said: “We’re grateful to see Awel y Môr supporting this year’s conference, particularly in helping to enable student attendance. Sponsorship like this plays an important role in making the event viable and in creating a space where the sector can come together to connect, share insight and build momentum. 

Our conference is a key forum for collaboration across Wales’ offshore renewable energy sector, so it’s great to have Awel y Môr backing this work as they move forward into project delivery following their recent CfD success. Their focus on engaging the future workforce is particularly encouraging and exactly what the sector needs as it continues to grow.” 

Professor Tom Rippeth of Bangor University, said: "I would like thank Awel y Môr for the fantastic opportunity they created in supporting our students to attend the Marine Energy Wales conference in Llandudno. At a time when marine science skills are needed for the proposed rapid development of offshore renewables, the opportunity to attend this conference has enabled the students to see their roles in these developments." 

20 students from Welsh universities received free tickets courtesy of the Awel y Môr project

Luca Kaplan, BSc Ocean and Geophysics student, said: “I learnt a lot from the panels on offshore renewable energy projects in Wales, as well as their important local supply chains. In particular, speaking to industry professionals about their roles and experiences was helpful, as it gave me a clearer understanding of the pathways within the sector.” 

Millie Merryweather, MSc Marine Renewable Energy student, said: “The Marine Energy Wales conference was a great experience, offering the opportunity to learn first hand from industry leaders and gain valuable insights into working within the sector. The conference has inspired me as a master’s student to continue building my knowledge in renewables and build towards a more sustainable, greener future. 

Austin Kitson, MSc Marine Environmental Protection student, said: “It was a wonderful opportunity to discover more about the industry and learn more about the expected timeline for marine renewable projects. I also found that the people in the exhibitions were helpful with answering questions and I had one even offer for me to reach out if I ever wanted to do some research with them! Very grateful for the opportunity.” 

A GEO survey vessel

Offshore site investigation surveys for the Awel y Môr project are poised to get underway as part of the first contracts placed following the project’s award of its Contract for Difference in January.  

The surveys, to be carried out by contractors Geo and TGS will enable further design refinements for the 78km2 array area, as well as its export cable route to the landfall site between Rhyl and Prestatyn.  

TGS will be carrying out a geophysical survey, using high resolution imaging, to map the seabed’s geology in detail, including identifying the depths at which rock layers change, identifying any major boulders and other seabed features that may impact offshore construction.  

Geo will carry out a geotechnical survey will use cone penetration testing and vibrocore sampling techniques to investigate the geological nature of the seabed itself, in order to build on information gathered during previous borehole surveys as well as PhD work carried out at Bangor University.  

Jo Pickard, Awel y Môr’s Senior Consents Manager, said: “This additional survey data will enable the team to make design refinements and fine tune our methods for offshore construction, which is currently planned to begin in 2029.  

“Onshore construction is planned to begin in 2027 with the onshore substation, followed by the cable route in 2028.  

“We will of course keep all relevant stakeholders informed and updated as our plans progress.”  

GEO is to deploy two vessels, which will carry out work in different areas of the seabed. 

Kim Sillemann, Managing Director at GEO said: “Geo, the deep penetration CPT specialist, is proud to be awarded a contract by RWE for geotechnical investigations at Awel y Môr, where the new-built heavy-duty CPT rig ’GeoScope II’ will be used in the wind farm’s array area.  

“The GeoCeptor, an effective combined CPT and vibrocore rig will fulfil the programme along the offshore export cable route” 

Students at Connah’s Quay High School taking part in the RWE Renewables Challenge

With the end of the academic year closing in, the RWE Renewables Challenge, which was taken up by students at Connah’s Quay High School is also wrapping up. 

Year 9 students have been carrying out research and looking at issues relevant to the renewables industry, including biodiversity, with a focus on the north Wales coast. 

The Awel y Môr team, in conjunction with Careers Wales, is now looking at how it can be rolled out to other schools. 

Poppy Tremayne, Awel y Môr’s Stakeholder and Skills Manager, said: “Seeing the students get to grips with nature and other aspects of offshore wind as it relates to where they live was a privilege, and I’m really pleased that we can now look at how it can work in other schools across Wales.”

As a multi-billion-pound infrastructure investment, Awel y Môr presents a broad range of opportunities for businesses working in renewable energy, those in civil or electrical engineering, and other related industries.  

The Supplier Navigation Tool has been created to help suppliers better understand their position within the offshore wind supply chain, helping them feel more informed and able to identify opportunities with RWE that align with their skills and capabilities. 

It also provides clarity on which services are procured directly or indirectly by RWE, helping businesses better tailor, target and strengthen their engagement with the developer or other appropriate potential contractors  

Jordan O’Neill, Awel y Môr’s Supply Chain Development Manager, said: “We understand that for businesses that will not contract directly with the Awel y Môr project team, finding the relevant contractors to subcontract with can feel like an uphill battle. 

“By creating this tool we can take some of the more time-consuming work out of this process, and reduce barriers for new suppliers to win work in offshore wind.” 

The tool is part of RWE’s Supplier Transparency Engagement Programme, which can be accessed here.