PORT TALBOT POWER PLAY: £64m wind hub plan promises 5,000 jobs in major shake-up

A £64 million plan to turn Port Talbot into a floating offshore wind hub has been unveiled — with ministers promising thousands of jobs and a major boost for South Wales.

The UK Government says the funding will help develop the port into a base for a new generation of wind farms in the Celtic Sea, capable of powering millions of homes.

But while the announcement is being hailed as a breakthrough, the reality is that Port Talbot has been edging towards this role for some time.

Previous studies have already explored how floating wind turbines could be launched from the town’s docks, while earlier reports have highlighted how ports across South Wales — including Swansea and Milford Haven — are competing for a slice of the emerging industry.

This latest funding is aimed at pushing Port Talbot to the front of that race.

The money will go to Associated British Ports (ABP) to carry out detailed design and engineering work needed to handle floating turbines — huge structures assembled onshore before being towed out to sea.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the project puts Wales “at the heart” of the UK’s clean energy push.

He added:

“With its deep waters and strong winds, we are supporting Wales to storm ahead in floating offshore wind — a pioneering industry that will support thousands of good jobs and unlock the next generation of clean, homegrown power.”

The Celtic Sea is seen as one of the best locations in Europe for floating wind, with the potential to generate at least 4.5GW of electricity — enough to power around 6.5 million homes.

For Port Talbot, the headline figure will be jobs, with up to 5,000 roles linked to the development if projects progress as expected.

But that depends on future investment decisions, and for now the funding is focused on planning rather than construction.

Henrik Pedersen, chief executive of ABP, said the agreement marked “real progress” towards making the port a key part of the industry.

He said:

“This development would drive industrial regeneration, support thousands of skilled jobs and ensure Wales captures the full economic benefit of this emerging sector.”

Ministers have also linked the investment to wider global tensions and rising energy costs.

The UK Government said recent conflict in the Middle East had exposed how vulnerable households and businesses remain to volatile fossil fuel markets beyond the UK’s control.

They argue that projects like floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea are key to “taking back control” of energy supply — while helping to bring down bills in the long term.

Funding for Port Talbot, they say, is part of a wider shift towards clean, homegrown power — while also bringing jobs and new industries to South Wales.

he Welsh Liberal Democrats have warned that Labour are missing a golden opportunity to create a local industrial supply chain. 

Welsh Liberal Democrat, David Chadwick MP sounded a note of caution however.

He said:

“Any job creation is a positive step for Port Talbot, but Labour need to be honest about what this actually contains.

“These turbines are set to be built using imported steel and only assembled locally, not manufactured. This means much of the real economic value will still go elsewhere.

“We should be using projects like this to back Welsh industry, strengthen our local supply chains, and create long-term skilled jobs here in Wales, not just host the final stage.”  

The announcement comes as Port Talbot continues to reshape its identity following major changes at the steelworks.

The UK Government has already backed a new electric arc furnace and committed funding to support workers and businesses through the transition.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the latest investment “heralds the next chapter” for the town.

She added:

“This is a significant moment for Port Talbot and a major step forward for the growing clean energy industry in Wales.”

There are also wider ambitions to turn the area into a clean energy hub, with the Celtic Freeport and offshore wind developments forming part of a bigger picture.

However, questions remain about how quickly those ambitions will translate into real-world change.

Despite the scale of the announcement, there is no confirmed timeline for construction, and final approvals are still needed before work can begin.

And while Port Talbot has been tipped before as a key player in offshore wind — including being linked to major Celtic Sea projects and infrastructure studies — large-scale developments have yet to materialise.

The project is also part of a wider and increasingly competitive race, with other ports in South Wales pushing hard to secure contracts linked to the booming offshore wind sector.

For now, ministers argue the investment is about more than just jobs — pointing to the need for greater energy security following global instability.

But for many locally, the key question will be simpler: when — and if — the promised benefits actually arrive.

After years of big regeneration pledges, there will be cautious optimism — but also a sense that the real test is still to come.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Port Talbot tipped for key role as third Celtic Sea wind farm confirmed
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Welsh Government highlights Port Talbot in offshore wind push
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Ports battle for huge offshore wind contracts
Competition between South Wales ports has been heating up as firms eye lucrative construction deals.

Study launched into floating wind turbine deployment
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Pembrokeshire wins big as record UK offshore wind auction secures Erebus in Celtic Sea

The UK Government says the auction has delivered 8.4GW of new offshore wind, enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of 12 million homes. Ministers say the result puts Britain “firmly on track” for clean power by 2030 and marks a major shift away from volatile global gas markets.

Erebus — backed by Great British Energy and the National Wealth Fund — is one of the first commercial‑scale floating wind farms in the world and a flagship project for the Celtic Sea. Awel y Môr, off the coast of North Wales, also secured a contract.

The government says the round will unlock £22 billion in private investment and support around 7,000 skilled jobs across the UK, with Pembrokeshire expected to benefit from port upgrades, fabrication work and long‑term maintenance roles.

Welsh Secretary: “Huge news for Pembrokeshire”

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said:

Today’s announcement is huge news for Pembrokeshire and North Wales. It is a massive vote of confidence in Wales’ clean energy industry which is already delivering the well‑paid, highly‑skilled jobs of the future with the potential to bring thousands more.

These new projects in the seas off Wales will help secure our energy supply and bring down bills for good.

Offshore wind “40% cheaper than gas”, says UK Government

The government says the strike price agreed for fixed offshore wind — £90.91 per megawatt hour — is around 40% cheaper than the cost of building and running a new gas power station.

Ministers say the auction is a dramatic turnaround after the previous round failed to secure a single offshore wind project.

Energy Secretary calls result a “historic win”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

With these results, Britain is taking back control of our energy sovereignty. This is a historic win for those who want Britain to stand on our own two feet, controlling our own energy rather than depending on markets controlled by petrostates and dictators.

It is a monumental step towards clean power by 2030 and the price secured in this auction is 40% lower than the alternative cost of building and operating a new gas plant.

Clean, homegrown power is the right choice for this country to bring down bills for good and this auction will create thousands of jobs throughout Britain.

‘Vital for jobs’ says Swansea MP

Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, said: 

“This is huge news for South West Wales, vital for jobs from Port Talbot right across to Pembrokeshire. It comes straight after the confirmation that Wylfa will house the UK’s first nuclear SMRs – two Labour government’s delivering the biggest industrial investment in North Wales for a generation.

He added that there was “clearly huge potential for Wales to enter a new era of green energy jobs/investment”.

Industry welcomes the result — but warns the job isn’t done

While the scale of the auction has been widely praised, industry figures say the sector is “relieved rather than triumphant”.

Analysts warn that rising costs, supply‑chain bottlenecks and grid delays still pose risks for future projects.

One senior renewables consultant said the auction was a “big step forward” but stressed that developers “need long‑term certainty” to keep investment flowing into the Celtic Sea.

Celtic Sea tipped as “the next big frontier”

Energy experts say the Celtic Sea could become one of the UK’s most important clean‑power hubs, with floating wind expected to expand rapidly over the next decade.

Pembrokeshire’s deep‑water port facilities, fabrication yards and existing energy infrastructure are seen as key advantages as the region positions itself at the centre of the UK’s next offshore wind boom.

The government says today’s auction marks a major step towards reducing reliance on global gas markets, which have driven up household bills in recent years.

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Port Talbot tipped for key role as third Celtic Sea wind farm confirmed

The decision completes the trio of sites awarded under the UK’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5, joining projects already secured by Equinor and Gwynt Glas earlier this year. Together, the three floating wind farms are expected to generate enough clean energy to power more than four million homes.

Port Talbot in the spotlight

Ports including Port Talbot and Bristol have already been identified as front‑running candidates for turbine assembly and deployment. With deep‑water access and existing industrial infrastructure, Port Talbot is seen as a natural hub for the heavy engineering and logistics required to deliver floating offshore wind at scale.

Local leaders have long argued that investment in the Celtic Sea must translate into jobs and training opportunities in South Wales. Under Round 5 rules, developers must ensure at least 3.5% of their workforce are apprentices and that 10% of employees aged 19–24 are not in education, employment or training, opening the door for significant opportunities in Neath Port Talbot.

Welsh Government hails investment

Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans said the certainty over all three sites “will help unlock investment from ports, manufacturing companies and skills providers,” adding that Wales is now “at the global forefront of the offshore wind sector.”

Industry groups including RenewableUK and the British Ports Association welcomed the announcement, saying it positions Wales and the South West of England at “the cutting edge” of a sector that could support nearly 100,000 UK jobs by 2050.

Ocean Winds brings global experience

Ocean Winds, described as a world leader in floating wind technology, has already delivered the WindFloat Atlantic project in Portugal and operates major UK wind farms including Moray East and Moray West.

The Crown Estate said it had taken steps to “derisk” Round 5 for developers, including grid connection plans with the National Energy System Operator and extensive technical and environmental surveys.

What happens next

Ocean Winds and the Crown Estate will now work towards finalising an Agreement for Lease by spring 2026, allowing development work to advance.

For Port Talbot, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the town secures a central role in turbine assembly and deployment – a move that could bring hundreds of skilled jobs and billions of pounds of investment to the local economy.

#britishPortsAssociation #celticSea #crownEstate #energy #equinor #floatingWindFarm #gwyntGlas #industry #oceanWinds #offshoreWind #portTalbot #rebeccaEvansMs #renewableuk #windPower #windfloatAtlantic

Welsh Government launches ports prospectus highlighting Swansea, Port Talbot and Milford Haven in offshore wind push

The Welsh Government today (Tuesday 7 October) launches its Ports Prospectus at the Future Energy Wales conference in Newport, setting out how the nation’s coastline and industrial heritage can underpin the UK’s clean energy revolution.

Economy, Energy and Planning Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans said offshore wind could create 29,000 jobs, generate £4.5bn for the economy and power more than four million homes across Wales by 2030. Capacity is forecast to exceed 20 gigawatts by 2045.

Swansea and Port Talbot

Associated British Ports (ABP) said its Swansea and Port Talbot sites were “uniquely placed” to support both fixed‑bottom and floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. Ashley Curnow, ABP’s divisional port manager for Wales and the South West, said the ports’ proximity to development areas, large areas of developable land and strong transport links made them ideal to provide the infrastructure and supply chain capability needed.

Milford Haven and Celtic Freeport

At the Port of Milford Haven, chief executive Tom Sawyer said Pembroke Port offered a “prime gateway” to floating offshore wind, boosted by the investment incentives of the Celtic Freeport, which spans Port Talbot and Pembroke Dock. He said the port was ready to support the build‑out of floating offshore wind (FLOW) and anchor a world‑class supply chain in Wales.

Celtic Freeport chief executive Luciana Ciubotariu added:

“The Welsh Ports Prospectus rightly highlights the scale of opportunity for Wales in floating offshore wind, building on the momentum of The Crown Estate’s recent Celtic Sea leasing round. Celtic Freeport is advancing FLOW terminal capacity and supply chain opportunities at Pembroke Dock and Port Talbot.”

National context

The prospectus also highlights opportunities off north Wales, where more than 500 turbines have already been deployed from the Port of Mostyn.

Rebecca Evans said: “Wales stands at the heart of the clean energy transition – with a coastline that delivers natural deep‑water harbours, proximity to major wind lease zones, and an agile, ready‑to‑scale supply chain we represent one of Europe’s most strategic locations for offshore wind development.”

Next steps

The Welsh Government said its Freeports in south west and north Wales provide investors with tax incentives, streamlined customs processes and development‑ready sites, alongside investment in renewable energy skills.

The Ports Prospectus will now be used to showcase Wales’ offer to global investors as the Celtic Sea leasing round gathers pace.

Related Articles

More on Celtic Freeport and Wales’ offshore wind opportunity:

• Economy Minister congratulates Celtic Freeport consortium on winning bid
  Vaughan Gething hails Port Talbot and Milford Haven’s successful freeport bid, expected to create thousands of green jobs.
• Neath Port Talbot councillors approve next stages in 16,000‑job Celtic Freeport project
  Council signs off on governance and funding steps to progress the transformational freeport scheme.
• Crown Estate funds new offshore wind supply chain programme in South Wales
  £100k programme to boost SMEs in the Swansea Bay City Region reignites calls for devolution of the Crown Estate.
• Swansea, Port Talbot and Milford Haven ports in running for huge offshore wind contracts
  Welsh ports shortlisted as potential assembly hubs for floating wind turbines in the Celtic Sea.

#AssociatedBritishPorts #CelticFreeport #CelticSea #FutureEnergyWales #MilfordHaven #offshoreWind #PortOfMilfordHaven #RebeccaEvansMS #Swansea #WelshGovernment #WindPower #windTurbines

Ballycotton’s Beacon on the Island

The lighthouse on the island just off the coast by Ballycotton is always a nice subject for a photo. The night we were there, we hoped to photograph the moon rising behind the lighthouse but a large bank of cloud covered the horizon.

#Ballycotton #BallycottonLighthouse #BlarneyPhotographyClub #CelticSea #CoCork #coastalPhotography #Cork #EastCork #Ireland #IrishCoast #IrishLighthouses #lighthouse #lighthouseIsland #maritimeHeritage #navigationBeacon #Photo #Photography #sunset

Crown Estate funds new offshore wind supply chain programme in South Wales amid calls for devolution

The initiative, unveiled during a showcase event at the Senedd, will see £100,000 in funding provided to the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult to deliver a dedicated supply chain programme in the Swansea Bay City Region. The funding will be matched by the Swansea Bay City Deal, which is co-funded by the Welsh and UK governments.

Delivered through the Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme, the scheme will run for up to 18 months, helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) develop the skills and capacity needed to support the emerging floating offshore wind industry in the Celtic Sea.

Rebecca Williams, Director, Devolved Nations at The Crown Estate, said: “SMEs are a core driver of Wales’s economy. The F4OR scheme with ORE Catapult will help businesses in South Wales take advantage of the many opportunities presented by the development of a new floating offshore wind industry in the Celtic Sea.”

Expressions of interest will open at the end of July via the ORE Catapult website, with applicants assessed on their potential to expand within the offshore wind supply chain and alignment with the Celtic Sea Blueprint.

Wider investment and strategic context

The announcement follows The Crown Estate’s proposal to invest up to £400m in the UK’s offshore wind supply chain, including a £50m Supply Chain Accelerator already supporting organisations in Wales such as Neath Port Talbot Group of Colleges, Pembrokeshire College, and Marine Power Systems Ltd.

It also comes on the heels of Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5, which saw Equinor and Gwynt Glas (a joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and ESB) selected to develop two new floating wind farms in the Celtic Sea. The Crown Estate estimates the round could create 5,300 jobs and deliver a £1.4bn boost to the UK economy.

Rebecca Evans, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said: “Floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver lasting economic and social value for Wales. This important programme will support local companies bidding for work in the floating offshore wind industry.”

Calls for devolution of the Crown Estate

While the investment has been welcomed, it has also reignited calls for the devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales, a long-standing demand from campaigners and cross-party politicians.

The Crown Estate currently manages 65% of Wales’ foreshore and riverbeds and over 50,000 acres of land, with profits going to the UK Treasury. In contrast, Scotland gained control of its Crown Estate assets in 2017, allowing revenues to be reinvested locally.

Campaigns led by Plaid Cymru, Labour MPs, and grassroots organisations such as Siarter Cartrefi argue that Wales should benefit directly from the profits of renewable energy developments — particularly as the Celtic Sea becomes a hub for offshore wind.

A recent article by Bangor University’s Stephen Clear highlighted that despite Welsh Labour’s stated commitment to devolution, the new UK Government has not yet held discussions with Cardiff Bay on transferring powers. The Treasury’s Lord Livermore recently warned that creating a separate Welsh entity could “fragment the market” and “undermine investment in Welsh waters”.

Actor and activist Michael Sheen has also backed the campaign, saying Wales deserves the same opportunities as Scotland to reinvest in communities and tackle inequality.

#Business #CelticSea #CrownEstate #GwyntGlas #offshoreWind #SwanseaBayCityDeal #WindPower