Neath Port Talbot Council Leader, Cllr Steve Hunt, has welcomed a major step forward in the development of huge floating offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea which could create thousands of new jobs.
Britain’s Crown Estate has announced Equinor and the Gwynt Glas joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and ESB will be its preferred partners for the two new wind farms which will be among the largest floating wind developments in the world.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said as part of the announcement on Thursday, June 19th, 2025: “Floating offshore wind will be transformative for economic growth in Wales and the South West, unlocking thousands of jobs in places like Port Talbot and Bristol, bolstering our energy security and delivering industrial renewal.”
Reacting to the news, Cllr Hunt said: “This announcement paves the way for progress on the Celtic Sea project and is an extremely important moment for this county borough and for this region.
“We are looking forward to playing our part in developing the local and regional supply chain to maximise the benefits from renewable energy projects in the Celtic Sea, which will in turn contribute to the delivery of a green energy revolution. Neath Port Talbot has played a vital role in the industrial development of the UK now our residents are to be part of the cleaner industries of the future.”
The Celtic Sea floating offshore wind farms could generate the electricity needs for millions of homes and create more than 5,000 direct and supply chain jobs, creating a £1.5bn economic boost for the UK.
