Image credit: Flotation Energy
26/03/2026 | Floating wind
RenewableUK welcomes new investment in Port Talbot to transform it into a floating offshore wind hub
26 March 2026 - RenewableUK press release
The UK Government has announced up to £64 million of funding to transform Port Talbot into the UK’s first dedicated floating offshore wind port, marking a major step in developing the Celtic Sea as a new clean energy hub. The investment will support Associated British Ports (ABP) to develop the port infrastructure needed to deliver 4.5GW of floating offshore wind capacity – enough to power millions of homes with clean, homegrown electricity.
The project is expected to drive significant economic regeneration in South Wales, supporting up to 5,000 jobs and unlocking over £500 million of private investment. It 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 – a shift that will depend on reliable, affordable clean electricity - alongside investment in skills and training, and the creation of the Celtic Freeport to attract new industries.
RenewableUK Chief Executive Tara Singh said:
“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 which can deliver thousands of skilled jobs, attract significant private investment and generate clean, homegrown power at scale.
"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 which 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 £47 billion of private investment into Wales over the next ten years, support up to 8,000 well-paid, high-quality jobs and generate billions in tax revenues for public services.
"At a time of global instability and volatile fossil fuel markets, accelerating projects like this is vital. Clean energy made here in the UK is the best way to strengthen our energy security, protect billpayers and drive long-term economic growth.”
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For further information, contact
Robert Norris, Head of Communications
07969 229 913 | Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com
RenewableUK is the voice of the UK’s renewable energy industry. Representing close to 500 companies spanning the full supply chain, our members develop, operate and maintain the UK's wind, tidal, storage and flexibility infrastructure. By connecting industry and policy makers, we strengthen the UK’s global leadership in renewables, building a secure, affordable and sustainable energy future.