Offshore substation sets sail for Gwynt y Môr

Platform is one of two built by Siemens and Harland and Woff for new wind farm in Wales

The first of two 1,500 tonne substations built for the new Gwynt y Môr wind farm left Belfast today, to head for its new home off the coast of north Wales.

The substation is one of two platforms jointly designed and built by Siemens in Manchester and Harland and Wolff (H&W) in Belfast.

When it reaches its destination the substation will be lifted by crane on to a foundation. Eventually the two substations will be connected to 160 wind turbine generators via high voltage cables in the seabed. 

Gwynt y Môr, built by RWE npower renewables, is one of the largest offshore wind farm projects in the world.

The construction has so far supported hundreds of design, engineering and construction jobs in Wales, the North West and Northern Ireland, generating over £300 million for the UK economy.

Once fully operational, in 2014, the wind farm is expected to generate green energy for almost a third of the total of homes in Wales.