The Right Honourable Rhodri Morgan AM preformed the official opening of npower renewables National Operations Centre on Friday, 25 January 2008.
The National Operations Control Centre is based at npower renewables'
Dolgarrog Hydroelectric Power Station six miles south of the town of Conwy.
The Centre is responsible for monitoring and operating all of the business's
16 hydro schemes and 19 wind farms across the United Kingdom.
The National Operations Control Centre could have been based anywhere in the United Kingdom but the site at Dolgarrog was chosen reflecting the importance which the company attaches to its activities in Wales. npower renewables manages green energy assets across Wales; in north Wales it operates 7 hydro schemes, 2 onshore wind farms and the UK's first major offshore wind farm, North Hoyle. A second offshore wind farm, Rhyl Flats, is under construction and a decision is anticipated in the near future from the Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform about the application to build and operate Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm.
The National Operations Control Centre represents a capital investment of over £1 million. The control room at Dolgarrog has been significantly remodelled to accommodate a new state-of-the-art control suite. The Control Centre is also a national reporting centre for npower renewables' staff and contractors working throughout the country so greatly improving the management of health and safety. It controls power generation of over 450 MW and this figure is expected to rise to over 2,000 MW during the next 5 years.
Andy Billcliff, Head of Renewables Production, said, 'We could have sited the National Operations Control Centre anywhere in the United Kingdom. The choice of Dolgarrog was a strategic decision. Our portfolio in Wales is expanding and the power station at Dolgarrog is very well established, indeed, it celebrated its centenary in 2007. We also have a skilled and well trained workforce at Dolgarrog upon which we intend to build.'
The First Minister said : "This impressive centre could have been based anywhere in the UK but npower chose this site because they recognised how important Wales is to their operations. It's another example of how internationally renowned companies are being attracted to Wales and making major capital investments here. This is a long term commitment by npower based on the skilled, talented and committed workforce in North Wales, who will only benefit from this decision in the future".
For further information contact:
- Judith Roberts PR Consultant
T: 0151 648 0896
Press Release
