Draka Offshore to Supply Subsea Array Cabling for Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Off the North Welsh Coast

DRAMMEN, Norway, January 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

RWE npower renewables has today announced the award of a multi-million pound inter-array cabling contract(1) to Draka Offshore for Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, off the North Wales coast.

At 576MW, Gwynt y Môr will be one of the largest offshore wind farms currently in construction, and is being built by RWE npower renewables. The project is a shared investment between partners RWE Innogy, Stadtwerke München and Siemens(2). Once fully operational, energy generation from Gwynt y Môr is expected to be equivalent to the average annual needs of around 400,000 homes(3).

The Gwynt y Môr contract, valued at more than euro 25m, requires Draka to deliver approximately 148kms of three core 33 kV cable during 2012 and 2013, with a full range of cable accessories and logistical solutions. Production is expected to start in the second half of 2011.

Announcing the latest contract award, RWE npower renewables' Gwynt y Môr Project Director, Toby Edmonds said: "We're very pleased to welcome Draka on board with the Gwynt y Môr development, to provide the core inter-array cabling for the project. We have spent many months working closely with potential suppliers on the optimum design of the array cable network and we feel that Draka's expertise, flexibility and focus will be an important asset to the success of the project."

Martin Dale, commercial director for the Draka Offshore Division, commented: "In the past nine months, Draka has won contracts for three major offshore wind farms, won a design contract for a fourth and has recently supplied subsea power cables for tidal and wave energy in Scotland.

"The total order intake this year and factory load in the coming three years has exceeded our expectations and is a confirmation of the strength of Draka in this market segment. Draka has an outstanding reputation for delivering quality products and services, especially in the subsea environment. This outstanding reputation has led to a quick market entry for our new offshore wind inter-array products and services where we pride ourselves on close partnerships with our customers, essential for the satisfactory completion of each project."

Draka Offshore is a full service, engineering leader that delivers complete and highly valued cabling solutions to the offshore renewable energy grid, oil and gas and marine markets. Draka Offshore uses 11 production facilities and distribution in all major markets. Draka Offshore is a part of the Industry and Specialty Group of Draka Holding N.V.

Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm is being constructed 13 kilometres off the North Wales coast, in water depths of 12-28 metres, and was granted approval by DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) back in December 2008.

Construction of the euro 2billion Gwynt y Môr project began in November 2009 when work to prepare land at St Asaph for the construction of a new 132/400kV substation was carried out by North Wales civil engineering company Jones Bros.

Turbine foundation installation is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2011, and is expected to last for approximately two years.

- See the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm website: Download the project fact sheet and view the latest project information at: http://www.npower-renewables.com/gwyntymor

Editors notes

(1) The contract covers the provision of cabling, installation accessories, managed logistics and optional installation support services.

(2) GyM represents a total investment of more than EUR2 billion, shared between RWE npower renewables' parent company RWE Innogy(60%); Stadtwerke München, Munich's Municipal Utility(30%); and Siemens(10%).

(3) Energy predicted to be generated by the proposal is derived using wind speeds monitored in the local area. This enables a calculation to be made to estimate the average annual energy production for the site based on 160 turbines each of rated capacity 3.6 MW. The energy capture predicted and hence derived homes equivalent figures may change as further data are gathered. Equivalent homes supplied is based on an annual electricity consumption per home of 4700 kWh. This figure is supported by recent domestic electricity consumption data available from The Digest of UK Energy Statistics and household estimates and projections from the UK Statistics Authority.

About Draka Holding N.V.

Draka Holding N.V. (Draka) is the holding company of a number of operating companies that are active worldwide in the development, production and sale of cable and cable systems. Draka's activities are divided into three groups: Energy & Infrastructure, Industry & Specialty and Communications. Within these three groups, the activities are organized into divisions. Energy & Infrastructure consists of the Europe and Asia-Pacific divisions; Industry & Specialty consists of the Aerospace, Automotive, Engineered Specialties, Elevator, Renewable Energy and Offshore divisions and the Communications Group is comprised of the Telecom Solutions, Multimedia and Specials, Americas and Optical Fiber divisions.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, Draka Holding N.V. has 68 operating companies in 31 countries throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. Worldwide, the Draka companies employ approximately 9,400 people. In 2009, Draka reported revenues of euro 2.0 billion and net income of euro 48.3 million (excluding non-recurring items).

Draka Holding N.V. ordinary shares and subordinated convertible bonds are listed on NYSE Euronext Amsterdam. The company is included in the Next150 and the AMX index (Amsterdam Midkap index. Options on Draka shares are also traded on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam Derivative Markets.

    
    -- For more information about Draka Holding N.V. please visit:
       http://www.draka.com
    -- For more information about Draka Offshore please visit
       http://www.Drakaoffshore.com

About RWE npower renewables

RWE npower renewables is the UK subsidiary of RWE Innogy and is one of the UK's leading renewable energy developers and operators, committed to developing and operating wind farms and hydro plant to produce sustainable electricity.

The company operates 18 hydroelectric power projects and 23 wind farms in the UK, including the country's first major offshore wind farm, North Hoyle. RWE npower renewables is also working with marine energy technology partners to deliver new wave and tidal stream power projects in the UK. As Government policy focuses on achieving its EU commitment for 15% of UK energy to come from renewables sources by 2020, renewable electricity generation will need to increase to 30% of total output. We will be at the forefront of realising this aim.

In Wales, the company operates six hydroelectric power projects in North Wales, two offshore wind farms - North Hoyle, the UK's first major offshore wind farm, and Rhyl Flats, the largest renewables project in Wales, both off the North Wales coast. It also operates seven onshore wind farms from Neath in South Wales to Anglesey in the north.

RWE Innogy pools the renewable energy expertise and generating plant of the RWE Group. The company plans, builds and operates renewable power generation facilities, and aims to vigorously grow its renewable energy capacity in the UK and Continental Europe.

RWE npower renewables is a sister company to RWE npower, a leading integrated UK energy company with around 6.8 million customer accounts. RWE npower also owns and operates a flexible portfolio of conventional power stations as well as a portfolio of cogeneration plant producing more than 10% of the electricity used in England and Wales.

RWE is a major employer in Wales, operating five renewables office bases in South, Mid and North Wales, the Aberthaw Power Station and two Combined Heat and Power plants at Barry and Bridgend. In all, RWE's installed conventional and renewable energy generation in Wales supplies the equivalent of around one-third of Wales' electricity needs.

The company prides itself in its know-how, experience, quality of service and customer tailored solutions. Offering a comprehensive care plan after the sale or rental of their hammers including highly qualified service technicians, full range of spare parts, service and maintenance of the complete hammer systems.

For further information about RWE npower renewables and RWE Innogy visit http://www.npower-renewables.com and http://www.rweinnogy.com

For further information about RWE npower visit http://www.rwenpower.com