Mostyn port expansion and Danish ties strengthen Wales’s energy future

Wales’s growing role in the UK’s clean energy transition was the focus of a trade visit to Denmark this week by Wales Office Minister, Dame Nia Griffith, as North Wales celebrated a major offshore wind expansion at the Port of Mostyn.

Dame Nia’s three-day visit to Copenhagen aimed to strengthen collaboration between Welsh and Danish companies in renewable energy and attract further investment into Wales’s expanding green energy sector.

It followed the announcement of a £600 million investment deal between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Bute Energy, and Green GEN Cymru to develop new onshore windfarms in Wales—expected to create up to 2,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, in the Senedd, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood praised the Port of Mostyn’s expansion, which will create 300 new jobs as the Flintshire port develops a new berth to cater for the next generation of larger floating offshore wind turbines.

The port has also purchased the former Warwick International site, further strengthening its role in renewable energy and engineering.

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Isherwood congratulated the port and its Managing Director, Jim O’Toole, for their leadership in developing North Wales as a clean energy hub.

“The Port of Mostyn and its tenacious Managing Director, Jim, who is known to many of us, are to be congratulated on their announcement of a new berth to cater for the next generation of larger floating offshore wind turbines,” he said.

He also highlighted Mostyn’s role in carbon capture and hydrogen energy, noting its proximity to the HyNet Carbon Capture Pipeline and calling for further investment in tidal energy, including a proposed tidal lagoon stretching from Mostyn to Point of Ayr.

Responding, the First Minister welcomed the expansion, saying:

“I am delighted to see that development, and I look forward to meeting this Jim – he sounds like an absolute legend, up there in the Port of Mostyn – because part of what he’s interested in doing is assembling the fabrication and assembling of wind turbine structures and the supporting services.”

During her visit to Denmark, Dame Nia Griffith reinforced Wales’s position as a global leader in renewable energy, particularly in floating offshore wind, which could generate up to £1.4 billion for the UK economy and create 5,300 new jobs.

She met with industry leaders and investors to highlight Wales’s natural resources, skilled workforce, and world-class energy sector.

Tim Morris, Head of Communications for Associated British Ports, emphasised the shared ambitions of Welsh and Danish ports in driving renewable energy projects.

“Ports in Wales and Denmark share the ambition to play a foundational role in enabling the energy transition. It was great to sit down with other port operators and key stakeholders from the wider energy sector from both countries to share knowledge and insights.”

Dame Nia Griffith said the UK Government remains committed to growing Wales’s clean energy industry, working alongside the Welsh Government and private sector partners.

“There are tremendous opportunities for partners and investors in Denmark to work with us to boost the clean energy sector in Wales,” she said.

“I am determined to make sure we achieve our clean energy mission which will bring energy security, drive down energy bills, create good jobs, and help to protect future generations from the cost of climate breakdown.”