Wales announces £2 billion windfarm project

A £2 billion windfarm to be built in Wales is expected to be one of the largest in Europe, it has been revealed.

Led by energy firm RW Innogy, the Gwynt y Mor windfarm has been given the go-ahead and is expected to be producing energy by 2014.

Welsh secretary Cheryl Gillan said: "It will … become one of the largest offshore windfarm projects in Europe, able to provide enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of around 400,000 homes."

Built ten miles off the coast near Llandudno, the renewable energy facility has been designed to accommodate 160 wind turbines and create jobs for over 1,000 people.

Shadow Welsh secretary Peter Hain added that Gwynt y Mor will reduce carbon dioxide levels by 1.7 million tonnes every year.

Last month, The Crown Estate announced the extension of offshore wind farms, which it hopes will provide 1.4 million homes with power every year.

Posted by Joseph Hutton