Darllen yn Gymraeg

We are now preparing for the construction phase of the project, with our offshore site investigations covering the array area and offshore cable route nearing completion. Onshore, the last phase of archaeological investigations at the substation site are underway and trial trenching is poised to begin on our cable route later in the summer.

Alongside this, we are continuing to support businesses in the region to bid for work on Awel y Môr, hosting a briefing at the Global Offshore Wind Conference in Manchester alongside Welsh Government and regional industry cluster the Offshore Energy Alliance.

Lastly, if you have any questions about our work, please feel free to contact the project via the Awel y Môr website: www.awelymor.cymru

Previous archaeological investigations at the onshore substation site

Archaeological investigations are currently underway at our onshore substation site with similar work also due to start shortly along the cable route, to be carried out by two Welsh companies. 

Investigations at the onshore substation are being carried out by Archaeology Wales, based in Pontypridd, while the cable route work is in the hands of the commercial arm of Heneb - the Trust for Welsh Archaeology, which has offices in Bangor.

Archaeology Wales will be investigating areas of the substation identified for further study during trial trenching works in 2024, that potentially contain Roman or iron-age remains.

The investigations involve stripping the topsoil in areas of the site to enable archaeologists to carry out investigations by hand. Any relevant finds are removed for further study and the site restored once works are complete. 
As part of this, temporary traffic lights have been installed on a section of Glascoed Road west of St Asaph Business Park to ensure the safety of contractors entering and exiting the site.

Siân Thomas, Project Officer at Archaeology Wales, said: "We're really pleased to be working on such a significant renewable energy scheme for Wales. Archaeology Wales employs around 16 people, and developer-led schemes like this are a major part of our work.

"Earlier work identified features suggesting a probable Iron Age to Romano-British settlement, and this work offers an important opportunity to add to our understanding of prehistoric and Romano-British activity in the Vale of Clwyd, an area with a rich but only partially explored archaeological landscape." 

Heneb will be investigating various locations along the 12km onshore cable route, with around 30 trial trenches to be dug this summer. These locations have been identified as potentially containing buried archaeology following geophysical surveys earlier in the project’s development. 

This work is expected to pause in October before resuming in the following spring, with further trial trenches being dug along the cable corridor.

Members of the choir from Cardiff-based Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd alongside RWE’s Eleri Davies

With the Eisteddfod yr Urdd taking place on Ynys Môn in north-west Wales this year, the Awel y Môr team were thrilled to support the event, sponsoring big screens around the site.

RWE’s Head of Onshore Wind Development: Wales and England, Eleri Davies, was also asked to present an award, giving the trophy to Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, who won the Parti Unsain, or unison singing competition.
Eleri Davies said: “As a company with such a big presence here in Wales, we’re very glad to be able to support important cultural events and organisations like the Urdd.

“I know many members of staff from our sites across Wales have fond memories of taking part in the competitions like the poetry recital, singing and folk dancing, and others whose own children who enter each year as well.”

Jordan O’Neill, Awel y Môr’s Supply Chain Development Manager presenting at this year’s Global Offshore Wind conference in Manchester

The Awel y Môr team presented an update on the project at this year’s Global Offshore Wind conference, hosted by Renewable UK at the Manchester Central convention centre.

Jordan O’Neill, Supply Chain Development Manager, shared the latest on the project, including information on progress up to this point as well as our next steps.

He was joined by Ffion Davies of the Offshore Energy Alliance, the industry cluster which covers North Wales and North West England, and Cheryl Whittaker, Welsh Government’s Regional Engagement Manager.

The team discussing the project with Adam Price MS, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy.

The two-day event is one of the largest annual renewable industry events globally, with thousands of attendees from across the world.

As well as meeting with potential supply chain companies and fellow industry professionals, the team met with Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, and Welsh Government representatives.

Ysgol Maes Garmon from Mold in Flintshire also visited the stand to find out more about offshore wind in north Wales.

The team were also pleased to welcome a delegation of pupils from Ysgol Maes Garmon in Flintshire to the RWE stand to talk about offshore wind in their own home region.

Jordan O’Neill said: “Awel y Môr, and the wider offshore wind sector, represents a significant economic growth opportunity, so ensuring businesses in north Wales and surrounding areas understand where their services can potentially sit within the supply chain is vitally important. 

“RWE’s Supplier Navigation Tool enables a more self-service approach for suppliers, helping them to identifying opportunities with RWE that align with their skills and capabilities. It also provides clarity on which services are procured directly versus indirectly.

“However welcoming north Wales schoolchildren to the stand was a real highlight. Awel y Môr is planned to be operational well into the second half of the century, so pupils from Ysgol Maes Garmon today will benefit directly as they grow older, whether through employment in the renewables industry, or simply by powering their homes and workplaces.” 

As the Awel y Môr project moves towards the construction phase and into operation, the supply chain team will continue to help the region’s businesses navigate the various work packages required throughout the lifecycle of an offshore windfarm.

As well as online tools and databases, this will also include information events to be held in north Wales within the coming months.

If your business would like to be among the first to receive any relevant invites, consider signing up to the RWE STEP initiative.