(1888PressRelease)
July 16, 2009 - The first of the wind farm’s 25 turbines has exported its first power to shore as construction works continue on site to complete installation of the remaining wind turbines and subsea cables.
Kevin McCullough, Chief Operating Officer for RWE Innogy, said, “That power will be generated in the next few days is one of the most significant achievements yet in the construction of Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm. We are delighted to reach this milestone, which marks the start of a life time of environmental benefits that Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm will deliver through pollution-free energy generation. In addition, the wind farm is bringing benefits to the regional economy through investment in jobs and local services. Local community projects will also benefit from an annual community fund for the life of the wind farm, which will become available when the project is fully operational.”
Power from the wind farm is taken to shore by subsea cables, and then cabling underground to the recently completed substation at Towyn, where the voltage of the electricity is onverted for transmission over the national electricity grid. In the coming months, the other 24 turbines will come on line and it is expected that the wind farm will become fully operational during the final quarter of 2009. Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm will generate enough power to meet the annual electricity needs of around 61,000 homes. It will prevent the release of tens of thousands of tonnes of the main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide every year that would otherwise be produced by traditional fossil fuel-burning energy generation.
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