About the Llŷr Project
200MW Test & Demonstration Projects in the Celtic Sea
- A pathfinder project accelerating the development of the UK floating offshore wind industry
- Piloting the development, construction, installation and operation of floating offshore wind at a large scale in UK waters
- Assisting the learning of how floating wind interacts at a large scale with the natural environment and local interests, to better understand the benefits and challenges and to identify opportunities to enhance the local environment
- Developing and refining installation and O&M methodologies crucial for the successful deployment of commercial scale projects
- Supporting the establishment and development of an indigenous UK offshore floating wind industrial capability in the Celtic Sea region
- Maximising the local UK supply chain and employment opportunities and benefits
Location of Project
The Llŷr wind farm is a proposed floating offshore wind development in the Celtic Sea, within Welsh Waters, offshore from the Pembrokeshire coastline. At its closest point, the boundary of the proposed area for lease for the Project is approximately 38 km from the Lundy Island shore and 31 km from the Welsh coastline and consist of two 50 km2 “areas of search” for the location of the wind farms. The eventual extent of area occupied will be reduced following the appropriate site investigation and detailed design work.
About the Project
The project will comprise two 100MW demonstration projects using two different floating offshore wind platform technologies:
- Up to 8 turbines per project with a rating of between 12 and 20 MW per turbine
- Each project will have up to two offshore export cables to landfall
- The projects will have an operational life of 25 years
- Anticipated to be operational by 2027
Turbine Design
The proposed turbine design will be visually similar to a ‘conventional’ offshore wind turbine, though the internal technical design differs and the turbine is larger with a higher generation capacity.
The turbines will integrate with a floating platform, utilising a tension leg or catenary mooring system to secure the platform to the seabed. The mooring radius may vary between 50 to 800 meters depending on the mooring arrangement used.
We have shortlisted our technology partners and will hope to make announcements later in 2023, which will allow us to provide more information.
Cable Routes
The offshore and onshore cable routes are currently under consideration and will be identified following the technical assessments and consultation with stakeholders. We aim to work with other developers in the Celtic Sea to achieve cabling solutions that minimise environmental interactions, impact on neighbouring commercial activities, and stakeholder concerns. Our intention is to share and co-locate cable routes wherever this is technically and commercially viable. Our current favoured export cable route identifies Freshwater Bay as the preferable landfall, although other alternative routes are under consideration and are undergoing technical engineering assessments.