The government's draft Renewable Energy Strategy favours a huge increase in offshore wind power and the Institution of Civil Engineers has backed a tidal energy scheme in Conwy.

Published by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which is currently considering the 200-turbine Gwynt y Mor Wind Farm application, the report states: "We expect the key growth area to be wind power, both on and offshore. This would equate to around 3,000 extra offshore turbines.

"The rate of building needed for offshore wind could be similar to the rapid rates of building that took place for coal in the 1970s and gas and onshore wind in the 1990s."

Located eight-miles off shore the 30.5 square mile site would dwarf the 25-turbine Rhyl Flats project and feature 540ft turbines.
N-power renewables is about to submit planning applications for electrical works vital to the construction of Gwynt y Mor.

Llandudno Town Cllr Phil Evans said: "With this report being published it is almost like changing the rules during an ongoing process. Any further wind farm development will impact the visual amenities as far as North Wales is concerned and it is clear from what is going on with the Rhyl Flats development that this is a significant intrusion."

Jonathan Lincoln, of the Sustainable Energy Alliance, supports the application, he said: "Consent for the Gwynt y Mor Wind Farm and other projects will show that we take the threat of climate change and our renewable energy commitments seriously."

Cllr Dr Stuart Anderson is working on a pilot tidal energy and flood defence scheme which would be the first of its kind in the UK and could prove vital to building further projects across the county.

Talking about the institution's backing he said: "I'm pleased with the recommendation and I look forward to cooperating with them. We need to work together across the counties of North Wales. I'll be talking to Conwy cabinet and other counties to get preliminary studies under way. Tidal power could generate as much energy as is currently provided by nuclear power."

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