Rhyl Flats
| Rhyl Flats Wind Farm | |
|---|---|
|
Viewed from the air, looking south | |
  Location of Rhyl Flats Wind Farm in Wales | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Location | Liverpool Bay, Wales |
| Coordinates | 53°22′N 03°39′W / 53.367°N 3.650°WCoordinates: 53°22′N 03°39′W / 53.367°N 3.650°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | December 2009 |
| Owner(s) | RWE npower Renewables |
| Wind farm | |
| Type | Offshore |
| Distance from shore | 8 km (5 mi) |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 25 x 3.6 MW |
| Make and model | Siemens Wind Power |
| Nameplate capacity | 90 MW |
Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm is a 25 turbine wind farm approximately 8 km north east of Llandudno in North Wales. It is Wales' second offshore wind farm and the third offshore wind farm to be built within Liverpool Bay. It has a maximum rated output of 90 MW.
Construction
The Rhyl Flats project was initially developed by Celtic Offshore Wind Limited (COWL) as part of the UK's Round 1 offshore wind farm programme.[1] COWL received consent for the project in 2002, and in December 2002 the project was purchased by Npower Renewables (formerly National Wind Power and now a subsidiary of German firm RWE), who were also developing the neighbouring North Hoyle and Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farms. Offshore construction work at Rhyl Flats began in July 2007 and the completed project was officially opened on 2 December 2009.[2]
North Hoyle was completed in 2003, just a few kilometers east of Rhyl Flats. The Round 1 projects were intended to act as testbeds; building the UK's understanding of offshore wind, whilst in total also providing well over 1000 MW of green generating capacity for the UK. All of the Round 1 offshore wind farms were limited to a maximum area of 10 km², and no more than 30 wind turbines.
Output
The first electricity was supplied by the site on 15 July 2009. The project consists of 25 Siemens Wind Power SWT-107-3.6 wind turbines, each rated at 3.6 MW capacity. This gives the project a maximum output of 90 MW; a third greater than the neighbouring North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm, but with 5 fewer wind turbines and spread over a smaller area. At the time of installation, Rhyl Flats is expected to generate enough electricity to power 60,000 homes on average.
See also
- Wind power in the United Kingdom
- List of offshore wind farms in the United Kingdom
- List of offshore wind farms
- List of offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea
- npower UK
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm. |
- Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm at npower Renewables
- Rhyl Flats map at The Crown Estate
- LORC Knowledge - Datasheet for Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm
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