PORT TALBOT STEEL GETS NEW ROLE IN GREEN ENERGY FUTURE: Welsh consortium launches research into wind turbine towers made with local steel

Researchers backed by Welsh Government funding have launched a project that could see the steel being made in Port Talbot’s new electric arc furnace used to build the next generation of wind turbine towers — creating a direct link between the town’s industrial future and Wales’s clean energy ambitions.

The consortium, led by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, includes Tata Steel UK, energy companies RWE and Bute Energy, and engineering firms Hutchinson Engineering and Ledwood. It has been awarded £174,000 through the Welsh Government’s SMART Flexible Innovation Support scheme to research a new approach to turbine tower design using thin strip, coil-based steel produced in low-emission electric arc furnaces.

The significance for Port Talbot is immediate. Tata Steel is currently in the middle of a £1.25 billion transition from blast furnace steelmaking to electric arc furnace production — a transformation that has already cost thousands of jobs at the steelworks but which the company says will deliver a cleaner, more competitive future. As Swansea Bay News has reported extensively, construction of the new furnace is now under way, with commissioning expected by the end of 2027 or early 2028.

The type of steel at the heart of this new research project — thin strip, coil-based product made in an electric arc furnace — is precisely the kind of output that Port Talbot’s new operation will be able to produce. That steel is also the feedstock that flows downstream to operations including the Trostre tinplate works in Llanelli, which produces coated steel for food and drink packaging and which is directly dependent on the Port Talbot supply chain.

The turbine tower research aims to solve a specific problem in the UK’s renewable energy sector. Most wind turbine towers currently built in Britain rely on thick steel plate imported from overseas — creating a bottleneck in the supply chain and adding cost and carbon to projects. The consortium wants to develop a design that replaces imported thick plate with domestically produced thin strip coil steel, using engineering techniques borrowed from the marine and aerospace industries to create structures that are lighter, stronger and cheaper.

Crucially, the proposed design would also be dismantlable and recyclable — meaning that when turbines reach the end of their working life, the steel could be melted down and reused. Bute Energy’s Catryn Newton described it as a circular economy vision for Welsh steel: end-of-life turbines helping to power homes and industry for decades could eventually be recycled through the electric arc furnace and transformed into the towers of the next generation.

“If we get this right, we could see end of life turbines that have been helping to power homes and industry across Wales for the past 30 years, recycled and sent to the newer electric arc furnaces,” she said. “The work of this group is exploring whether that scrap metal can be transformed into a material that could be used in the next generation turbine towers, helping to power Wales’ clean power future.”

Tata Steel’s Sumitesh Das said the company was excited to be involved in research that could position Wales as a global hub for this kind of innovation. “As Tata Steel UK transitions to electric arc furnace steelmaking, our ambition is to ensure domestic supply chains capitalise on the growth of clean energy and help drive economic growth in the UK,” he said.

The project comes as Port Talbot’s industrial community continues to navigate the painful consequences of the blast furnace closures, which took around 2,800 jobs with them. The hope — articulated by politicians, unions and the company itself — has been that the new electric arc furnace would not only preserve steelmaking in the town but open doors to new markets and new applications for Welsh steel. This wind tower project is one of the first concrete examples of what that future might look like in practice.

Aberafan Maesteg MP Stephen Kinnock welcomed the research, saying it was essential that British and Welsh steel played a central role in the clean energy transition. “This research demonstrates how Wales and the UK can remain at the forefront of the transition to renewable energy,” he said. “By decreasing reliance on imported steel we can bolster energy security, create economic growth, secure regional jobs, and support offshore wind deployment in the Celtic Sea and beyond.”

Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said the investment reflected the Welsh Government’s commitment to building a greener economy. She pointed to the potential for creating high-value jobs and strengthening supply chains as Welsh industry pivots towards clean energy.

The Celtic Sea, off the coast of Pembrokeshire and west Wales, is one of the most promising sites for floating offshore wind development in the UK. Port Talbot — with its established steel expertise, its port infrastructure and its proximity to that potential wind farm zone — has long been identified as a natural base for offshore wind supply chain activity. As Swansea Bay News has reported, a £64 million wind energy hub plan for Port Talbot has already been put forward with the promise of up to 5,000 jobs.

The first phase of the new research project will focus specifically on onshore turbine tower design and the commercial case for using locally produced coil steel. If the concept proves viable, the researchers say it could be extended to offshore and floating wind applications in later phases — potentially unlocking a significant new market for the steel being made in Port Talbot and processed downstream at Trostre.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Work begins on Port Talbot electric arc furnace as steelworks transition moves forward
The groundbreaking that marked the start of building the very furnace this wind tower research is designed to feed.

Inside the giant Port Talbot steelworks overhaul as Tata clears the way for new electric arc furnace
An inside look at the transformation under way at the steelworks — and what it means for the future of steel in South Wales.

Tata Steel begins new project at Port Talbot in £1.25bn green plan
The pickle line that supplies Trostre in Llanelli — a reminder of how closely linked Port Talbot and the downstream operations are.

PORT TALBOT POWER PLAY: £64m wind hub plan promises 5,000 jobs in major shake-up
The wider vision for Port Talbot as a centre for clean energy — and how today’s research fits into that bigger picture.

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PORT TALBOT: Steel plan sparks cautious hope — but big questions remain for Welsh jobs

At the heart of the strategy is a push to rebuild domestic steelmaking, including new tariffs on imports, a target for half of UK steel demand to be met at home, and billions in funding to support the industry’s transition.

For communities built around steel, the announcement lands at a critical moment.

In Port Talbot, the shift away from traditional blast furnaces is already under way, while in Llanelli, the Trostre works continues to play a key role in Welsh production. Together, they form part of an industry now facing one of the biggest changes in its history.

Local Labour MP Dame Nia Griffith has backed the plan, arguing it signals a more serious commitment to the sector after years of uncertainty.

Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, said:
“The steel industry is a vital core element of our economy here in Wales, generating growth and providing thousands of jobs, including hundreds in my own constituency.

“This is a clear, well thought-out, long-term strategy for our steel industry that will help deliver the high-quality steel our country needs for our key infrastructure, our national security and for the wider economy.”

Her support reflects the Government’s central message — that the strategy will not only protect jobs, but put the industry on a more stable footing for the future.

But that optimism is far from universal.

Opposition figures say the plan raises as many questions as it answers, particularly around how much of the promised investment will reach Wales and what role UK steel will play in major future projects.

David Chadwick MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Wales, said:
“It is welcome that the Government has finally acted, but this looks like a panicked move after months of delay.

“Since the blast furnaces were switched off, Welsh steel has been left on life support.”

There are also concerns about the UK’s trading position, with warnings that being outside key European arrangements could leave exporters at a disadvantage in one of their biggest markets.

Industry voices have struck a similarly measured tone — welcoming steps to tackle cheap imports while warning that deeper issues remain unresolved.

Unite, which represents many steelworkers across Wales, says the new tariff regime is a positive step, but argues the industry needs a clearer long-term direction.

Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite, said:
“Unite welcomes the strengthening of the UK’s tariff regime to prevent the dumping of cheap foreign steel onto the domestic market.

“But this last minute situation is just another reminder that the reactive approach to UK steel that sees it lurch from crisis to crisis needs to be overhauled.”

One of the biggest sticking points is the industry’s shift towards electric arc furnaces — a cleaner form of steelmaking that relies heavily on recycled materials.

While central to the Government’s net zero ambitions, unions have warned that relying too heavily on this approach could limit the UK’s ability to produce certain types of steel.

Peter Hughes, Unite regional secretary, said:
“The government must also back the production of virgin green steel as we can’t simply rely on electric arc furnaces to produce all the steel we need.”

Alongside the strategy, ministers have also unveiled a new funding stream aimed at helping areas like Port Talbot adapt to the changes.

The Economic Growth & Investment Fund will offer grants of up to £1.5 million to businesses across Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Bridgend, targeting sectors such as advanced manufacturing, green energy and digital industries.

Local leaders say it could help soften the economic impact of the transition — if it delivers.

Cllr Steve Hunt, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said:
“This fund provides an important opportunity to support businesses that are ready to invest, grow and create new jobs across the region.”

For now, the strategy marks a significant moment for Welsh steel — but not a settled one.

With major changes already under way and more still to come, the focus is quickly shifting from what has been promised to what will actually be delivered.

And for communities across South West Wales, that will ultimately be the measure that matters most.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

One year on: resilience after blast furnace closure
Council leaders reflect on a turbulent year for the steel town.

Work begins on Port Talbot electric arc furnace
A major step in the steelworks’ transition to new technology.

Farage promises “reindustrialisation of Wales”
A headline‑grabbing pledge to revive coal and steel sparks debate.

Government criticised over treatment of steelworkers
Unions and politicians condemn support offered during the transition.

Dramatic video shows final push at Morfa coke plant
Striking footage captures the last days before shutdown.

PORT TALBOT: Government vows to “do whatever it takes” to protect steel jobs — but critics warn over end of traditional steelmaking

A major new Steel Strategy has been unveiled during a visit to Port Talbot, with ministers promising tougher trade rules, billions in investment and a push to increase the amount of steel made in Britain.

At the centre of the plan is a target for 50% of all steel used in the UK to be made domestically — up from around 30% — with the Government saying Welsh producers are expected to play a major role.

That includes Tata Steel operations in Port Talbot, Llanelli, Shotton and Newport, as well as 7Steel in Cardiff.

The UK Government says it will also crack down on cheap imports.

From July, steel import quotas would be cut by 60%, with anything above those limits facing a 50% tariff.

Ministers argue the move will stop British steel being undercut — a long-standing complaint from workers and industry leaders in South Wales.

But the strategy has already sparked debate about what kind of steel industry the UK is actually protecting.

While ministers are backing domestic production, the plans also confirm a continued shift away from traditional blast furnaces towards electric arc furnaces, like the one being built in Port Talbot.

These use recycled scrap metal rather than raw materials — a move the Government says is key to cutting emissions and modernising the industry.

However, critics warn that transition could come at a cost.

They argue electric arc furnaces cannot always produce the same specialist grades of steel needed for defence and major infrastructure, raising concerns about long-term capability.

There are also fears the UK could become more reliant on imported materials — even as ministers move to restrict finished steel imports.

Peter Kyle, Business and Trade Secretary, said steelmaking was “vital” to the UK’s future.

He said: “Making steel in the UK is vital for national security, critical infrastructure and the wider economy.

“With this strategy we are closing the decades-long chapter of destructive de-industrialisation and committing instead to strengthening and sustaining Britain as a steel-making nation.”

The Government says the strategy is backed by major investment, including £5.8 billion through the National Wealth Fund for priority industries such as steel.

That builds on more than £600 million already committed to Port Talbot, alongside plans to unlock up to £2.5 billion in further funding during this Parliament.

Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales, said the plans showed ministers were standing firmly behind Welsh industry.

She said: “The UK Government is standing up for Welsh steelmaking and showing that we will do whatever it takes to boost domestic steel production and protect the thousands of steelmaking jobs in our communities.

“Welsh steel is expected to account for half of future UK steelmaking… Welsh steelmaking now has a secure and bright future.”

The strategy also includes measures to lower energy costs, prioritise UK-made steel in public projects and strengthen links with sectors like offshore wind, defence and infrastructure.

A new working group will also look at securing long-term supplies of scrap metal — a key part of the shift towards electric arc production.

The move comes after years of uncertainty for the industry, with global competition, rising costs and the transition to greener production putting pressure on steelmaking communities across South Wales.

Ministers insist imports will still play a role, but say the new rules are designed to strike a balance between protecting domestic producers and maintaining supply.

However, with the industry undergoing one of its biggest transformations in decades, questions remain over whether the strategy will truly secure the long-term future of steelmaking in Wales — or simply reshape it.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

One year on: resilience after blast furnace closure
Council leaders reflect on a turbulent year for the steel town.

Work begins on Port Talbot electric arc furnace
A major step in the steelworks’ transition to new technology.

Farage promises “reindustrialisation of Wales”
A headline‑grabbing pledge to revive coal and steel sparks debate.

Government criticised over treatment of steelworkers
Unions and politicians condemn support offered during the transition.

Dramatic video shows final push at Morfa coke plant
Striking footage captures the last days before shutdown.

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