Business
RWE and Dragon join forces for Milford Haven CO2 Project
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Pembroke-Power-Station.png)
RWE, the largest power generator in Wales, and Dragon, an industry leader in LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), are proud to announce the Milford Haven CO2 Project. This pioneering initiative will integrate carbon capture, liquefaction, temporary storage, and ship loading of captured CO2 to enable its transportation from the Dragon site via non-pipeline transport (NPT).
The project aims to connect industries from both the south and north sides of the Milford Haven Waterway, supporting decarbonisation by directly linking the RWE and Dragon facilities, and providing a CO2 shipping solution. This project is a crucial component of the South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC) Deployment Project, with RWE serving as the lead partner.
The project is exploring options for transportation of the CO2 including discussions with Acorn, a Track 2 Transport and Storage system operator; in addition RWE and Dragon recently responded to the call for evidence on non-pipeline transport and cross-border CO2 networks.
Richard Little, Director of RWE’s Pembroke Net Zero Centre and Simon Ames, Managing Director Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy jointly commented on the launch of the initiative: “The Milford Haven CO2 Project will support the transition of Milford Haven industries towards a net zero future whilst maintaining energy security for the UK and achieving Wales’ budget 3 goal for decarbonisation. RWE’s gas fired Pembroke Power Station is developing a CCS project and Dragon is developing a project for liquefaction and shipping of CO2. This will protect jobs, enhance the economy and protect security of supply into future green economies centred around renewables.”
RWE is exploring options to apply carbon capture technology at Pembroke power station, a key part of the Pembroke Net Zero Centre (PNZC) initiative. This plant could provide up to 2.2 GW of decarbonised, secure, and flexible energy, enough to power around 4.3 million homes, and capture up to 5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. Feasibility studies have been delivered on technology options, with first public consultation expected during 2025.
Dragon is developing a project to integrate LNG regasification and CO2 liquefaction processes at its terminal in Waterston. This integration promises to reduce energy consumption, carbon intensity, and the levelized cost of CO2 export, supporting RWE’s Pembroke Net Zero Centre by processing CO2 before shipping it via NPT to carbon sequestration sites. Dragon has appointed contractors to conduct a feasibility study on the technical solutions, carbon intensity reduction, and economic viability.
CO2 shipping, which involves liquefying and transporting captured CO2 to established carbon storage sites using specialised vessels, is crucial for regions without access to nearby carbon stores or existing pipeline infrastructure. This includes areas like the Thames Estuary and South Wales, providing a clear pathway to decarbonising vital power generation assets and critical industries.
Decarbonising industrial activities is essential for environmental sustainability and maintaining economic stability and job security in the region.
The Milford Haven CO2 project represents a significant commercial opportunity for the UK, which owns a substantial portion of Europe’s CO2 storage sites. Establishing a robust shipping capability will open market opportunities for the future, bringing green jobs and new employers to the UK. To ensure the success of this project, it is crucial that Non-Pipeline Transport (NPT) is incorporated into existing Carbon Capture Storage business models, allowing projects like Milford Haven CO2 to bid into the Track 2 build-out phase from 2025.
Business
West Wales airport most people have never flown from under new management
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A NEW group has taken over the operation of Swansea Airport after what were described as high-level talks with the site’s owner, Swansea Council. Swansea Airport Stakeholders Alliance is running the airport on a temporary basis after the previous leaseholder agreed to relinquish its lease.
The airport will continue to operate, and the council said it would soon start a process to find a long-term tenant. Council leader Rob Stewart said: “We’re delighted to have the alliance in place as a temporary new leaseholder. They’ve started running the airport and its members are eager to make a success of it.”
Council joint deputy leader David Hopkins said: “We’ll start to look for a long-term solution through a competitive tender process. The alliance will have the opportunity, with others, to bid in that process. There’ll be opportunities for future investment in Swansea Airport.”
The council said a range of issues with the previous tenant had arisen over recent years, resulting in the existing lease being brought to an end. It did not envisage any additional cost to the taxpayer and said the airport would remain open.
Bob Oliver, chairman of the alliance, said: “Today marks the culmination of three years of intensive work by the alliance. I pay tribute to the skill and professionalism of alliance members, of our stakeholders and of the council, who have put their faith in us to secure a brighter future for the airport.
“Our first task is to take stock of what we have inherited and then begin to bring the airport back to life – to make it a welcoming place to visit, to start delivering social, environmental and economic benefits to the council and the people of Swansea and to make it a facility we can all be proud of.”
Business
Local builder named as top finalist in Screwfix Tradesperson Awards 2024
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/solva.jpg)
SOLVA builder Chris James is constructing his way to the top after being shortlisted for the final ten of the 2024 Screwfix Top Tradesperson Award.
The 37-year-old, who has been in the construction industry for the past 15 years, will now go head-to-to-head with nine other finalists from across the UK and Ireland after beating off fierce competition from over 1,000 applicants.
Chris’s company, Kingsmere Carpentry and Construction, is also committed to raising funds after securing over £50,000 for the children’s charity ‘Farms for City Children’. The charity enables children from disadvantaged communities to find out about working on farms in the countryside.
Chris is also committed to working sustainably bu using waste responsibly by using excess wood to fuel fires. He also plans to invest in a new fleet of electric or hybrid vehicles for use in his company.
In addition to gaining the coveted title, the, the winner will take home a trade bundle of tech, tools and training worth £20,000.
The finals take place at Screwfix LIVE on Friday, September 27 where a panel of industry experts will put Chris and the other finalists through their paces before selecting this year’s overall champion.
Business
Nearly 100 new homes ‘for local people’ approved in Tenby
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Brynhir-development.jpg)
A CONTROVERSIAL Tenby housing scheme with nearly 100 “local houses for local people” which will be visible from the island of Caldey has been approved by national park planners
In 2018, Pembrokeshire County Council, which already owned the 15-acre Brynhir site on the edge of Tenby, ‘bought’ the land for £4million using its Housing Revenue Account.
Campaigners fought a two-year battle against the use of the land for housing, calling for protection for ‘Tenby’s last green space’ and fearing it would become a ‘concrete jungle’.
The county council was granted outline planning permission by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority for the development of 144 properties – including up to 102 affordable units – in 2020.
It is now proposed that only 125 houses will be built, 93 of them affordable, and, of the 32 Open market dwellings, 16 are shared ownership properties.
Amendments also included the removal of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), one of two Local Equipped Area for Play Spaces (LEAPS) instead providing a multi-use space for ball games.
The reserved matters application, backed in principle by Tenby Town Council, was recommended for conditional approval at the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park development management committee meeting of September 4, despite being contrary to the provisions of the Development Plan.
Tenby Civic Society has raise numerous concerns to the scheme and 20 objections were also received from members of the public, raising concerns including loss of green space, traffic issues, privacy, design, visual impacts and the scale of the development, sewage capacity, the site being no longer allocated for housing, potential antisocial behaviour within the play area, and a limitation on second homes/holiday lets being required.
At the September meeting, concerns about the proposal were raised by Jane Merrony of 1,100-member Tenby Green Space Preservation Society, who said it was inappropriate in its proposed location and “a visual intrusion which will be seen from Caldey Island”.
She told members the scheme would place “extreme pressure” on existing waste water infrastructure and questioned the viability of the development, with fears it could be sold off to a private developer.
The application was passed by park planners after approval was moved by Cllr Di Clements, who expressed her difficulty in weighing the balance between green spaces and housing needs.
Speaking after the meeting, local county councillor, and committee member, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall said building work was expected to start next year, adding: “These will be let on a local letting policy – they will be local houses for local people. They can’t be sold, they will always be council housing.”
She added: “I believe that this is a hugely important decision for Tenby. We need housing for local people and I am delighted that 93 properties will be council housing. This is good news for our Schools and good news for Tenby. Properties will be let on a strict local letting policy, which means Tenby and the immediate surrounding area only.
“I would like to congratulate the teams from Pembrokeshire County Council on getting to this stage but I also say loudly and clearly that the real hard work starts now and we have to do all that we can to ensure that these properties are built as soon as possible. We have a housing crisis now and need these properties built and let to local people.
“I know that not everyone will be happy. There are people who opposed the scheme for quite legitimate reasons but in the end, for me the balance of the argument was in favour of the scheme and the housing it will provide.”
Fellow Tenby councillor Michael Williams welcomed the scheme but raised concerns about foul water drainage.
“The initial proposal was to run foul water in a North Westerly direction with a new pipeline and despite reassurances from Dwr Cymru I still have major concerns about the capacity of the existing system to deal with such a large development. There are also in my opinion unaddressed concerns regarding storm water runoff and inadequate landscaping on the southern boundary.”
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