Green future planned for Wales’ Aberthaw Power Station 

Commissioned in the 1960s, the South Wales plant consisted of two stations - the 600MW Aberthaw A and the 1.4GW Aberthaw B - with much of the plant’s coal supplied by the nearby Tower Colliery in Hirwaun. Operations at the plant ceased in 2020 with the closure of Aberthaw B, and CCR (Cardiff Capital Region) then purchased the site in 2022. CCR subsequently set up CCR Energy to demolish, clear, and remediate the site, with a view to transforming Aberthaw into a green energy hub.

The deal with SSE Energy Solutions will now see investment at Aberthaw, exploring applications including advanced technologies for power networks, heating and cooling systems, electric vehicle charging and energy management, generation and storage. According to SSE, the project presents a unique opportunity for the region to benefit from low-carbon jobs and a financial boost for local communities.

“We aspire to be the UK’s leading provider of local clean energy infrastructure,” Carl Davies, director of commercial at SSE Energy Solutions said in a statement.

“This agreement with CCR Energy means that we can work together to deliver innovative green projects, create good green jobs and create social value in Aberthaw and across South East Wales.”

The CCR covers 10 local authority areas including the cities of Cardiff and Newport, plus surrounding regions such as Monmouthshire, Caerphilly and Vale of Glamorgan. With a population of 1.5 million, CCR makes up almost half the total population of Wales. It is a diverse region comprising a range of market towns, the industrial heartland of the South Wales Valleys, rural communities and a coastal belt. Recent decades have seen an influx of investment to help redevelop heavy industrial areas linked to the region’s traditional coal mining heritage.

“We need to sell our region’s competitive strengths on a global stage, and seek out the investors, backers and markets that like our offer,” said Kellie Beirne, chief executive officer of CCR.

“With its strategic location, thriving economy, and ambitious development projects, CCR offers investors a compelling opportunity to be part of its growth story.”