Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

Offshore Wind farm plan floated for Port Talbot

15 Nov 2021 2 minute read
The potential plan according to Associated British Ports

A plan for a wind farm just off the shore of Port Talbot has been floated by Associated British Ports, who own the site.

Associated British Ports owns five ports in the south of Wales but said that the deeper waters off the shore of Port Talbot would make it the best choice for such a scheme.

The plan also involves filling in parts of the current port in order to allow for the manufacture and assembly of the wind farms.

Andrew Harston, Director ABP Wales and Short Sea Ports said they were attempting to “sketch the outlines of what needs doing”.

“We need a new approach to realise the huge potential of Wales’ strategic port locations; to build the foundations of a new cycle of innovation and prosperity and time is of the essence,” he said.

“One of the key opportunities ABP is keen to seize is the potential to create a floating offshore wind (FLOW) centre of excellence in the Celtic Sea. The Port of Port Talbot is well positioned to do so and has the deep waters required. Port Talbot also has brownfield land ready for development, excellent rail connections, proximity to steel, marine and aggregates and access to thousands of skilled workers.

“The port of Port Talbot is currently predominantly used for imports of coking coal, minerals and ores for Tate Steel. ABP plans to work with the steel giant and others to make its vision a reality.”

Its report Future ports: Wales vision also applies to its ports in Swansea, Barry, Cardiff and Newport.

Chairman of the Tata Steel UK board, Sandip Biswas, said he was on board with the plan.

“The port is a vital connection for us allowing the direct import of raw materials for steelmaking,” he said.

“We are excited to see ABP developing its vision for the future and look forward to working closely with ABP to realise these plans. It is only by working together in partnership that we can all develop a better, more sustainable, world for the future.”

The full report can be read here.


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
7 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Dai Rob
Dai Rob
2 years ago

As long as nothing HARMS OUR BEAUTIFUL ABERAFAN BEACH!!!!!

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
2 years ago

I’m always cynical about grand schemes that will “…build the foundations of a new cycle of innovation and prosperity,,,” How many times have we heard these wonderful and ultimately meaningless phrases? Build and assemble turbines? FLOW is an untried and uncertain technology and presupposes that the skills are available here – since this is unproven they are in very short supply everywhere and are not available here. Assembling of imported parts might work, but that is all, the main skills of development and manufacture will be elsewhere. But worry not! Once the Welsh government hears “innovation,” neatly coupled with “green”… Read more »

Jeffery Perkins
Jeffery Perkins
2 years ago

What about the empty foreshore in front of TATS

Malcolm rj
Malcolm rj
2 years ago

Why don’t they ship all the people out of wales.and cover the whole of Wales in windmills and forestry and solar panels also our coustal waters in more windmills and all the money that is generated Go too the crown estates and keep England tidy come on wake up Wales

George Bodley
George Bodley
2 years ago
Reply to  Malcolm rj

Go put them in surrey oh wait they’re an eyesore can’t have them there

Welsh_Siôn
Welsh_Siôn
2 years ago

Offshore wind farm floated …

We all saw what you did there!

George Bodley
George Bodley
2 years ago

Well let’s just spoil the views again with another wind turbine more visual pollution

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.