The RWE Gwynty Môr Offshore windfarm has reached an important milestone after clearance certificates were issued for the project in Liverpool Bay.
The certificates were issued for the 160-turbine development after a five-month risk management project was completed by 6 Alpha Associates, confirming that the threat of unexploded ordnance (UXO) had been significantly reduced.
UXO is a widely recognised risk in many offshore wind projects, especially if the projects are constructed in waters that have seen war or unexploded munitions.
Simon Cooke, the managing director of 6 Alpha Associates, said: “When working in European coastal waters, it is imperative that developers and construction teams acknowledge the very real risk that unexploded ordnance and munitions presents.
“The Second World War saw warfighting and afterwards, extensive dumping of munitions off the UK and other European coasts and, given the rapid development of offshore windfarm activity, it is a challenge that has been properly acknowledged and addressed by RWE.”
6 Alpha Associates will continue to work on the project to help continue to reduce the risk of UXO.