Welsh wind farms win funding with up to 7,000 jobs expected

Two wind farms off the west and north Wales coastline have secured UK government funding to supply the national grid, with up to 7,000 jobs expected to be created.

The Erebus wind farm would become Wales' first floating offshore wind farm, following two projects already operating in Scotland.

It is hoped the development could open up a new industry, leading to as many as 5,000 jobs in the next decade.

A second wind farm, Awel y Môr, using more traditional offshore turbines, is planned close to existing projects.

The funding comes from a government scheme to encourage investment in renewable energy.

Floating wind farm

Traditional offshore wind turbines are built into the seabed with fixed foundations. In contrast, floating turbines sit on large floating steel structures which are then tethered to the seabed.

This allows the turbines to be manufactured and maintained on land, then carried on ships to locations further out at sea with higher winds.

The long-term goal is to establish the Celtic Sea as a major hub for floating offshore wind energy. The Crown Estate is currently leasing three large-scale projects, with an estimated 264 turbines to be installed by the mid-2030s.

Long-Term Goal

The Erebus wind farm off the Pembrokeshire coast would be able to produce 96MW - enough to power about 90,000 homes.

The plans by Blue Gem Wind include building between seven and 10 turbines, in the Celtic Sea, about 45km (28 miles) off the coast.

While it may sound like a small amount compared to other offshore projects, it has been described as a "pathway project" for the Celtic Sea.

Pathway Project

It will be the first project to use this new technology in the Celtic Sea. There is currently limited infrastructure, supply chain or workforce in Wales to produce the turbines.

In addition, ports in the Celtic Sea are not yet prepared to handle the large-scale infrastructure. Three Welsh ports, in particular Port Talbot, are in the running for contracts to develop these projects.

Scotland is already home to two of the largest floating wind farms in the world, Hywind Scotland and the Kincardine.

Funding

These will soon be joined by the Pentland and Salamander projects, along with the 560MW Green Volt project, which previously secured funding from the UK government.

Awel y Môr will become the first offshore wind farm to be built in 10 years off the coast of Wales.

Awel y Môr will see between 34 and 50 turbines, 10km (6.2 miles) off the north Wales coast, next to the existing Gwynt y Mor windfarm.

This could potentially supply enough energy to power half of Wales' homes.

The company claims it has the potential to create 2,000 jobs during the construction phase.

"Major Step"

Becky Gittins, MP for Clwyd East - the constituency where Awel y Môr will be - said the funding decision represented "a major step forward for... our local economy, and the UK's energy security".

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said: "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."

Wales' first minister Eluned Morgan added she was "delighted" by the news.

"This demonstrates how Wales is well placed to build on its existing capacity for renewable energy, to reap the benefits of these new projects bringing many high-quality jobs and wider economic benefits to our economy."

Becky Gittins, MP for Clwyd East, said on her Facebook page:

“Brilliant news for Clwyd East today.

 

Awel y Môr has secured its new offshore wind contract - the first Welsh project to do so in more than a decade.

 

For us, that means more skilled work at the Port of Mostyn and more investment coming into our coastal communities.

 

When I visited the site in June with Dame Nia Griffith, we met engineers and technicians who spoke with real pride about the high‑quality, skilled jobs this project can create for people here in Clwyd East - jobs that keep talent in our area and support families for the long term.

 

And at a time when families are feeling the pressure of rising bills, home‑grown clean energy is essential. It strengthens our energy security and helps create a more stable, affordable system for the future.

 

A big step forward for our area.”