A MAJOR construction materials company has signed a long-term deal to use renewable energy from Welsh windfarms as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions.

Energy firm RWE has agreed a 15-year contract to supply electricity to Breedon Group plc, which operates sites across Great Britain producing materials including concrete, asphalt and cement.

Under the agreement, RWE will provide around 70 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity each year from its windfarm portfolio.

The power will initially come from the Gwynt y Môr offshore windfarm, about 24km off the coast of North Wales in the Irish Sea. From 2033, supply will switch to the Brechfa Forest West onshore windfarm in Wales.

The electricity will support the production of key building materials, helping Breedon reduce emissions linked to its energy use in a sector widely regarded as difficult to decarbonise.

RWE said the agreement highlighted the role renewable energy can play in helping heavy industry move towards lower-carbon operations.

Olaf Lubenow, head of commodity solutions at RWE, said: “This agreement underlines our commitment to supporting the construction materials sector on its journey towards a more sustainable future.

“By supplying renewable electricity from our wind portfolio, we are helping to reduce the carbon footprint of Breedon’s operations.”

Breedon said the deal would also provide long-term energy stability while supporting its wider sustainability plans.

Donna Hunt, the company’s sustainability director, said the agreement marked “a meaningful step forward”.

She said: “It secures long-term energy supply and helps accelerate the reduction of emissions from our operations.”

The company has set targets to cut emissions across its business by more than 20% by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050.

The agreement reflects a growing trend of major industrial firms turning to renewable energy to help meet climate targets while managing rising energy costs.

A 21ft PLEASURE boat was towed to safety after suffering engine failure between Lydstep and Giltar.

TENBY’S all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch shortly after 10:00am on Friday (May 1), after the occupants of the vessel reported that they had lost engine power.

The volunteer crew were quickly on the water and arrived at the scene around 10 minutes later.

After speaking with those on board, and with the boat in danger of drifting onto rocks, the crew decided the safest course of action was to tow the vessel back towards Saundersfoot.

Once at Saundersfoot, and with the tide out, the pleasure boat was moored in the bay. Its occupants were then taken ashore using the lifeboat’s Y-boat, where they were met by members of Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team.

The lifeboat returned to station at 11:25am.

Launch photo: Judd Kohler, St Davids Lifeboat Deputy Coxswain.

A new community project aims to tackle gaps in support for people living on the streets

A NEW community initiative is aiming to provide a “safe haven” for homeless people in west Wales, offering accommodation, training and round-the-clock support.

Safe Haven Homeless CIC has been set up by founder Dave Thomas, who said the idea came after witnessing the struggles faced by people sleeping rough in Carmarthen and Aberystwyth.

He described seeing individuals forced out of temporary camps, including one case where fencing was erected to prevent a homeless person returning to a former site.

Mr Thomas said: “We spoke to people who simply couldn’t access help because they had no fixed address or internet access. That was a real eye-opener.”

Research carried out by the group found that while a number of organisations provide advice and outreach support, there is a lack of safe, stable accommodation offering a full package of services.

The Herald understands that demand for housing remains high, with waiting lists for social housing stretching to around two years in some cases, particularly for those not in priority groups.

The project aims to address this by purchasing a property with land to create a multi-use support centre.

Plans include a main building with communal living areas, a kitchen, counselling rooms, IT facilities and training spaces, alongside outdoor accommodation such as bell tents and log cabins.

The site would also include recreational and work-based facilities, including a workshop, greenhouse, gym and fishing lake, designed to support wellbeing and provide opportunities for skills development.

Mr Thomas said the centre would be staffed 24 hours a day to ensure continuous support, addressing a gap where many services only operate during office hours.

The initiative also aims to become partly self-sustaining, with income generated through a small campsite, training activities and partnerships with external organisations.

Support networks are already being developed, including links with counsellors, charities and local businesses willing to offer employment opportunities to those using the service.

The organisation is being run by a team of directors alongside Mr Thomas, and is also building connections with other community projects in the region.

Mr Thomas added: “We believe this is a new and dynamic way to support homeless people. It’s about giving them not just a place to stay, but real support to rebuild their lives.”