Engineering news
The government announced up to £64m to build a new port at the town in South Wales today (26 March).
The nearby Celtic Sea “offers some of the best conditions for floating offshore wind in Europe”, the announcement said. Unlike traditional offshore wind farms, floating turbines are based in deeper waters, where they can harness stronger and more consistent wind speeds.
The funding will enable Associated British Ports to complete essential design and engineering work for the port, the government said. The project is expected to create up to 5,000 new jobs and unlock more than £500m in investment in the town.
“The conflict in the Middle East has once again exposed that families and businesses will continue to pay the price if the UK is dependent on fossil fuel markets that we do not control,” the government announcement said.
“The only way to take back control of Britain’s energy and bring down bills for good is with clean, homegrown power. Funding for Port Talbot is another step in learning the right lessons from the conflict, while bringing jobs and the industries of the future to South Wales.”
The project builds on wider government support for the area, including funding to support Tata Steel’s transition from coal-powered blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, alongside investment in skills and training and the creation of the Celtic Freeport to attract new industries.
“Investing in the infrastructure needed to make Port Talbot the first floating offshore wind hub in the Celtic Sea is a major step forward for an industry that can deliver thousands of skilled jobs, attract significant private investment and generate clean, homegrown power at scale,” said Tara Singh, chief executive of trade organisation RenewableUK.
“Across the UK, we have an opportunity to treble our offshore wind manufacturing base over the next decade. This funding is exactly the kind of early investment that will be critical to ensure communities like Port Talbot and Wales’ wider industrial heartlands capture that opportunity.
“Recent analysis found that scaling up renewable investment could bring in up to £47bn of private investment into Wales over the next 10 years, support up to 8,000 well-paid, high-quality jobs and generate billions in tax revenues for public services.”
Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.