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Business News Wales
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Wales' Largest Offshore Wind Farm Marks 10 Years Powering the Nation
Wind Offshore Park Gwynt y Mor, UK 2025 From left: Jo Pickard, senior consents manager, Awel y Mor, Becky Gittins, MP Lara Debenham, Interface Engineer, Awel y Môr, Nina Griffith MP, Gareth Brandrick, General Manager Gwynt y Môr, Josh Morris, Communications and Stakeholder Manager, Awel y Môr , Alisdair Smith, Marine & Logistics Manager Gwynt y Môr RWE has marked 10 years of electricity generation at Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm off the North Wales coast. At 576 megawatts (MW) installed capacity, Gwynt y Môr is currently the largest operating renewable energy project in Wales and, at the time of its inauguration in June 2015, was the second largest offshore wind farm operating globally. The project has created long-term, skilled jobs within the company and across its supply-chain, while unlocking significant economic investments for Welsh communities and companies alike, RWE said. From June 2015 to June 2025, Gwynt y Môr is estimated to have generated enough clean power to: Power a total of c.5.5 million typical Welsh and UK homes, (or 550,000 homes a year for 10 years) Drive a total of c. 257 million Electric Vehicles 400 km Run a total of c. 205 million light bulbs 24/7 for a year Sven Utermöhlen, RWE CEO Offshore Wind, said: 'A decade of operation at Gwynt y Môr is a defining moment for RWE, the region, and our passionate team. This wind farm has been at the heart of transforming North Wales into a hub of expertise for offshore wind energy and has set a blueprint for potential new projects across the UK. The experience RWE has gained here has been instrumental in establishing our company as one of the world's offshore wind leaders and a key player in the UK power sector.' Gwynt y Môr is a Joint Venture between RWE (50%), Stadtwerke München GmbH (30%) and Macquarie GIG (20%.) RWE originally developed and built the 160 turbines project and continues to be responsible for operating the offshore plant on behalf of its partners. RWE is also developing an extension project, Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, to the west of Gwynt y Môr with partners. The project already has approval for 50 turbines, making it Wales's largest consented renewables project. Staff past and present marked the 10 years of operations. The anniversary was also recognised by Welsh politicians, including Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli and Becky Gittins MP for Clwyd East, who visited the turbines and met with staff and contractors. Dame Nia Griffith MP, said: 'Gwynt y Môr shows how renewable energy projects can bring extraordinary benefits, not only by powering hundreds of thousands of homes and tackling climate change, but by strengthening communities, creating opportunities, and enhancing skills. It's inspiring to see the ongoing contribution it makes to a more sustainable future for Wales.' Since its inauguration, Gwynt y Môr has regularly supported communities in which it operates, and has been a catalyst for regional investment. The project led to key developments at the Port of Mostyn, where RWE built a bespoke Operations and Maintenance base providing over 100 long term, skilled local jobs. A new pontoon landing stage was also installed so that Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) could operate during lower tides; an innovation that enhanced the port's operational competitiveness. Beyond infrastructure, Gwynt y Môr has fostered the development of skills in the region. A bespoke offshore wind apprenticeship training programme at Coleg Llandrillo was launched in response to the RWE wind farm's operation, and is now RWE's national apprentice training hub. Through Gwynt y Môr, RWE has made significant investments in its neighboring communities. During construction, a £690,000 Tourism Fund unlocked transformational projects, including the creation of the Green Links Cycle Trail. Spanning local attractions from Prestatyn to Rhos-on-Sea, the trail has boosted regional tourism and connected key sites for locals and visitors. Long-term, the Gwynt y Môr Community Fund will invest over £19 million of flexible funding over the operational lifetime of the wind farm, with decisions made by a panel of local people. The fund supports projects ranging from improvements to sports clubs and community buildings to salaries for community development staff and projects, such as Abergele Actions and Building Brighter Futures in Rhyl.
Powys County Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Centre for Alternative Technology upgrade cash approved
A world-leading eco centre in Powys has reached a major milestone after funding was approved to create a vibrant hub for learning, innovation and community, rooted in Welsh culture and landscape. The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) near Machynlleth will see significant remodelling and futureproofing of its WISE (Wales Institute for Sustainable Education) building, renovating the Quarry Cottages, and upgrades to the Straw Bale Theatre. The Growing Mid Wales (GMW) Board approved support on Wednesday (June 25) for detailed design and specification work to bring key elements of the project, called Cynefin, to delivery. The Mid Wales Growth Deal aims to create jobs and increase productivity through projects across Powys and Ceredigion with £110m investment from the UK and Welsh Governments. "These early works form part of a wider plan to reimagine CAT as a world-class hub for sustainability, learning and community - enhancing its role as a catalyst for climate action and green innovation," a Mid Wales Growth Deal spokesperson said. "The Cynefin project reflects the Mid Wales region's ambition to lead in green innovation. "By creating a more immersive, inspiring and accessible experience for learners, tourists and changemakers, it will drive footfall and economic growth in the area, while also supporting vital work to tackle climate change." The CAT is an internationally respected environmental charity, a world-leading eco centre, and one of the foremost providers of postgraduate environmental education in the UK. The Cynefin project aims to help CAT attract more postgraduate students, host a wider range of visitors, and demonstrate climate leadership through its operations. Dame Nia Griffith MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, said: 'The UK Government is proud of our investment in the Mid Wales Growth Deal and in projects like Cynefin that support local jobs, education, and innovation. "Our number one mission is to kickstart economic growth in every corner of Wales.
South Wales Argus
13-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Cardiff event to help boost Welsh tech exports in Wales
The Made in the UK, Sold to the World event aims to connect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with key figures like commercial officers, international buyers, and export champions. There will be tailored advice, support, and discussions on real export opportunities at the event at Cardiff City Stadium. This includes exploring recent trade announcements with India, America and the EU. Wales Office minister Nia Griffith said: 'Wales is home to a huge number of successful small businesses with strengths in sectors that have been identified as having potential for growth. "This roadshow enables businesses leaders to access the support they need to expand their exports and grow their businesses. 'This comes just after the UK Government secured trade deals with the EU, India and USA which break down barriers for exporters and give them access to new markets."
Telegraph
30-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The Reform revolution is about to strike Labour's Welsh heartlands
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's attack on Nigel Farage to shore up Labour's standing in its traditional working-class heartlands has appeared to fall on deaf ears, with the party losing to Reform UK in a local by-election in the ward of Lliedi in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. An impressive victory in the south-west of Wales, Reform UK won 43 per cent of the vote share in Lliedi – with Labour's plunging to just 23 per cent, a drop of 35 percentage points. There wasn't much good news for the Tories, with theirs dropping into single digits, registering just seven per cent. The new councillor, Michelle Beer, is the wife of Gareth Beer – the Reform UK candidate who came within 1,505 votes of unseating the sitting Labour MP for Llanelli, Dame Nia Griffith, at last year's general election. The result in Lliedi follows Reform's gain at Labour's expense last month in a local by-election for the Bridgend ward of Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr in south Wales. But why is the governing party losing its grip on these Welsh heartlands? There are a variety of factors at play – one being Welsh Labour's spectacular mismanagement of the National Health Service (with healthcare being a devolved responsibility). According to a recent report produced by a group of independent experts, there is a 'high risk' of increasing patient harm if there is not an 'urgent improvement and turnaround' in the Welsh NHS – with emergency care and cancer treatment cited as areas which needed addressing. While Labour has sought to blame the previous Tory government for troubles with the NHS in England, it has nowhere to hide in Wales, which has had a Labour First Minister since the creation of the Welsh Assembly. However, the ongoing small-boats emergency on the English south coast cannot be overlooked, with its reverberations now impacting on local politics in the south of Wales. Llanelli recently witnessed protests over the four-star Stradey Park Hotel being pencilled in as a venue to house 207 asylum seekers, with the Home Office eventually u-turning on the matter. But the damage has been done, with established communities in Welsh towns knowing that they have been eyed up by Whitehall for the relocation of illegal Channel migrants. With Labour's 'smashing the gangs' strategy failing miserably and the Tories having lost all credibility over immigration, Reform UK are well positioned to cash in electorally on this front. Reform's spectacular surge in the recent English local elections, which saw the party gain council control in Durham and Doncaster, shows that Farage's turquoise army is more than capable of parking their tanks on Labour's red lawns. Labour is running the risk of an electoral bloodbath in Britain's traditional Left-wing heartlands – at the hands of an insurgent challenger party of the Right which is led by a man who once wanted to keep the Thatcherite flame alive. Rather than go on the attack, Starmer would be wise to undertake a serious period of reflection.
Wales Online
05-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Update on plans for Wales' largest new office with building work end date in sight
Update on plans for Wales' largest new office with building work end date in sight Thousands of staff at banking giant Lloyds are due to move into the building next year The huge building will be home to 3,000 employees of Lloyds The largest new office scheme in Wales has secured a £15m loan from the Cardiff Capital Region to complete construction work. Family-owned property development firm JR Smart has been backed with funding from the city region's Strategic Premises Fund for its 114,000 sq ft Cardiff city centre John Street 10-storey office scheme. Last year Lloyds Banking Group agreed a long-term lease to occupy the entire building. While the external structure is completed it still requires significant internal work such as mechanical engineering. Lloyds has agreed a 15-year lease, with a break after 10, at just under £30 per sq ft. The new headquarters building for Lloyds will be able to accommodate 3,000 staff in various teams providing customer service and support services to many parts of the group. JR Smart is expected to complete work on John Street this December, which following a fit-out will see Lloyds taking occupancy of the entire building in the summer of 2026. Article continues below Welsh Government cabinet secretary for economy, energy, and planning Rebecca Evans said: "This investment in new office space at John Street in Cardiff will support key priorities such as business growth and regeneration for the regional economy. "We continue to actively explore opportunities to work collaboratively with the Cardiff Capital Region in order to deliver significant economic benefits." Wales Office Minister Nia Griffith said: "I am very pleased to see the UK Government's investment in the Cardiff Capital Region. This will help to deliver on our economic growth mission, a vital part of our plan for change. Article continues below "This development, along with improved transport links, will provide fantastic facilities to encourage businesses to base themselves in Cardiff and to expand, helping to create new jobs and put more money in people's pockets." Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and the city region's portfolio lead for the Strategic Premises Fund, said: "This investment plays its part in further developing exciting and environmentally sustainable office space that national brands wish to take up, adding to the long-term inclusive growth in our region. Our vision to connect communities, services and businesses continues to develop and our interventions in office space and transport links have a key transformative role." The £50m Strategic Premises Fund from the city region, made up of the 10 local authorities of south-east Wales and funded by its now nearly fully committed £1.2bn City Deal from the UK and Welsh governments, is evergreen with interest and capital from loans made reinvested to back other building and infrastructure projects.
