Applications for consent to build and operate the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of North Wales are soon to be submitted by project developer, npower renewables - one of the United Kingdom's leading renewable energy generators.

The Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, which would be located 8 to 9 miles off the North Wales coast (approximately twice as far offshore as the existing wind farm at North Hoyle) would produce enough power every year to supply the needs of up to 500,000 homes¹ (or put differently, 40% of the homes in Wales²!)

It is estimated that Gwynt y Môr would create 120 new jobs during its operational life, the vast majority of which would be in the local area.

To give local people the chance to find out more about the plans which are being submitted for Gwynt y Môr, 4 public exhibitions are being held in North Wales and Wirral.

Georgia Markwell, npower renewables' project manager for Gwynt y Môr, said, "npower renewables is committed to making sure local people are kept up to date with the progress of our projects, and this is why we have decided to hold another series of public exhibitions for Gwynt y Môr following on from those that we hosted locally last autumn."

The Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm would comprise around 200 wind turbines to harness the energy in the wind and turn it into green, pollution-free electricity. Gwynt y Môr would produce electricity for 70 to 85% of the time, paying back the energy used in its manufacture in less than a year of operation. Over the rest of its life, the wind farm would prevent the release of approximately 2 million tonnes of polluting carbon dioxide gas³ every year (a carbon dioxide saving similar to taking 590,000 family cars off the road⁴).

To determine what effects Gwynt y Môr might have on the environment, a number of detailed studies have been carried out. The findings of these studies, which have looked at everything from seascape, to shipping, to marine wildlife, are reported in a document called the Environmental Statement which accompanies the consent applications⁵.

An independent survey carried out in the summer of 2004 amongst tourists to the North Wales and Wirral coasts revealed that 96% of tourists believe that the North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm, which was built by npower renewables in 2003, has had 'no effect' on visitor numbers to the area. Only 4% felt that the presence of Gwynt y Môr would make them less likely to return to the area⁶.

If the Gwynt y Môr project is granted consent, npower renewables plans to start building in 2008 with the project operational by 2010/2011.

npower renewables has been working with Welsh communities for almost 100 years, harnessing the natural potential of water; and, over the last 14 years, wind, to generate sustainable, non-polluting electricity for homes and businesses. The company supports a wide range of local interests around its projects in Wales. Most recently this has included the establishment of the North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm Community Fund and the donation of a new support Land Rover to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboat station in Rhyl.

The upcoming Gwynt y Môr public exhibitions will take place as follows:

Wednesday, 16 November 2005, King's Gap Hotel, Hoylake, from 2 pm until 8 pm;

Thursday, 17 November 2005, Rhyl Town Hall, Rhyl, from 2 pm until 8 pm;

Saturday, 19 November 2005, Llandrillo College, Colwyn Bay, from 10 am until 4 pm;

Sunday, 20 November 2005, St George's Hotel, Llandudno, from 10 am until 4 pm.

Members of npower renewables' Gwynt y Môr project team will be available to speak to visitors and answer questions.

For further information contact:

• Judith Roberts, Campbell Sampson Limited
  T: 0151 236 6605
• Sara Alan-Smith, PR Officer, npower renewables
  T: 01189 59 2440

Editors Notes
npower renewables develops and operates both onshore and offshore wind farms and hydroelectric power schemes. Through parent company, RWE npower - a leading UK integrated energy company www.rwenpower.com - it is also co-firing biomass materials in conventional power stations. The company is also actively supporting energy efficiency measures and the further development of wave and tidal power in the UK.

1. Predicted annual generation from the wind farm of 2,350,000,000 kWh per year divided by the average annual electricity consumption of a UK household of 4,700 kWh per year = 500,000 homes.



2. 500,000 homes divided by National Statistics estimate for number of households in Wales in mid 2003 of 1,213,400 = 41%.



3. 860g carbon dioxide per kWh x 2,350,000,000 kWh per year, divided by 1,000,000 g per tonne = 2,021,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.



4. Based on Vauxhall Vectra 1.8LS. 'What Car' magazine, March 2002, 178 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre, travelling 12,000 miles per year = 3.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide per car per year. 2,021,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide offset by wind farm divided by 3.4 = 594,412 equivalent cars per year.



5. Copies of the Environmental Statement will be available to view at:
   • Colwyn Bay Tourist Information Centre, Imperial Buildings, Princes Drive, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL29 8LF
   • Conwy County Borough Council, Bodlondeb, Conwy, North Wales, LL32 8DU
   • Denbighshire County Council Offices, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, LL15 1YN
   • Isle of Anglesey County Council, Council Offices, Llangefni, Anglesey, LL77 7TW
   • Llandudno Tourist Information Centre, 1-2 Chapel Street, Llandudno, Gwynedd, LL30 2YU
   • Rhyl Tourist Information Centre, Rhyl Childrens Village, West Parade, Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL18 1HF
   • Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, Balliel House, Balliel Road, Bootle, L20 3NJ
   • Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral, CH44 8ED
6. The independent survey of tourists' opinions was carried out at 8 locations along the North Wales and Wirral coastlines. It sought to determine the response of visitors to the existing North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm and their views on the proposed Gwynt y Môr project. 96% of tourists expressing an opinion on the effect of North Hoyle on visitor numbers to the area said there was 'no effect,' 4% of tourists surveyed felt that the presence of Gwynt y Môr would make them less likely to return to the area. The survey was undertaken by RBA Research which is a member of the British Market Research Association (BMRA), and abides by its Quality Charter. In addition, the conduct of the individual researchers is required to be compliant with the Professional Code of Conduct of the Market Research Society (MRS).

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