Plans for a tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay have taken a step forward following an agreement between Swansea Council and Batri Ltd to develop enabling energy infrastructure.
The agreement centres on the redevelopment of the former Tir John landfill site into a solar farm, which is intended to provide part of the energy base required for the proposed lagoon and associated land-based elements.
The tidal lagoon project would harness predictable tidal flows to generate renewable electricity and is positioned as a long-term infrastructure development for the region. It also forms part of a wider programme led by DST Innovations, including plans for a data centre, battery manufacturing facility, floating solar and a renewable energy transport hub.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said: “Our ambition is to become one of the leading renewable energy regions in Europe by creating a once-in-a-generation tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay.
“The plan for Tir John is a strategic first step to create part of the energy infrastructure that’s needed to allow the lagoon project’s tidal and land elements to proceed.
“A range of other renewable energy technologies will also be included in the overall project, helping create thousands of high-quality jobs while laying the foundations for long-term investment and sustainable growth.
“A tidal lagoon here would put the city on the world map for renewable energy and deliver clean power for decades. The momentum is building, and the vision is very much alive.”
The Tir John solar project will be delivered in three phases, with planning permission already secured for the first phase. It is expected to generate around 3MW of electricity at peak output and will be funded through private investment.
While modest in scale, the solar development is intended to play a supporting role by establishing initial generation capacity and helping to enable subsequent phases of the wider scheme, including the lagoon.
Stephen Hughes, Chief Technology Officer at Batri, said: “This is an important moment because it is where the overall Swansea project starts to become real on the ground.
“Tir John will generate renewable energy from its new solar farm, but its role is bigger than that. It begins to create the energy base for the wider project – one that can support future industrial development in Swansea, including a battery facility that will create significant skilled jobs as later phases come forward.”
The lagoon proposal includes energy generation infrastructure alongside public and leisure space, with the project intended to contribute to regional economic development.
The wider programme continues to move through planning and development stages, with further updates expected as additional elements progress.
