RWE, Wales’ largest electricity producer, has entered a new partnership with Tata Steel to explore the production of steel components for projects in the Celtic Sea.
Marine Energy Wales welcomes this new co-operation agreement as a major landmark in our ambition to develop the Welsh supply chain. Collaboration between developers and manufacturers is key to maximising the economic benefits of renewable energy to the local population.
The industry leaders will work together to identify the steel components that could be supplied from Tata Steel in floating wind technologies in the gigawatt-scale floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea. The co-operation agreement will allow the two companies to share knowledge and expertise and demonstrate the shared commitment to supporting the wider industrial decarbonisation and economic development of Wales.
Tom Glover, UK Country Chair, RWE, said:
“RWE is working with the Welsh Government and industry to support the country’s transition to meet its electricity needs with renewable energy by 2035. Not only will floating wind deployment in the Celtic Sea provide a renewable and sustainable energy source, but it will also generate widespread opportunities for economic growth in Wales, protecting and creating new jobs and supply chain opportunities.
“The co-operation agreement with Tata Steel exemplifies our commitment to utilising local supply chains and expertise to maximise benefits for the region.”
The steelworks in Port Talbot has been the cornerstone of British manufacturing for over a hundred years and Tata Steel continues to be the beating heart of Welsh industry with over 5,000 people directly employed across its sites in Wales.
Anil Jhanji, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Steel UK, said: “Steel-making in the UK played an integral role in supporting the acceleration of the industrial revolution in the late 19th century, and the industry once again will play its part in driving the UK through the ‘Green Industrial Revolution’.
“Whilst we cherish our history, we eagerly welcome the new opportunities which steel continues to offer, and through innovative technical solutions, we have the ambition to produce net-zero steel by 2050 at the latest, and to have reduced our CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030. We are also proud to have a product portfolio that will support the UK in securing domestic renewable energy through sectors such as floating offshore wind.”
RWE is proposing to deploy a pipeline of gigawatt-scale floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea as part of the Crown Estate’s upcoming leasing round. If successful, the projects will form a key part of RWE’s innovative decarbonisation hub, Pembroke Net Zero Centre, bringing together all areas of RWE’s decarbonisation expertise and supporting the transition to net zero in South Wales.
Marine Energy Wales welcome the co-operation agreement The co-operation agreement will allow the two parties to provide technical assistance and expertise to The Crown Estate, if needed as part of the Celtic Sea leasing process.
Stephen Thompson, Marine Energy Wales Programme Manager, said:
“This announcement is hugely significant for the future of the renewable energy industry in Wales. We are delighted that one of our members, RWE, has entered into this agreement with the UK’s largest steelmaker, Tata Steel. This deal makes it likely that a major component of the floating offshore wind technology will now be made here in Wales. Not only that, it also signifies that our homegrown manufacturers are switched on to the significance of the marine energy sector as a whole, and the opportunities presented to deliver a prosperous, sustainable, economic future.”