An artist's impression of how it will look(Image: Swansea Council)
Swansea Council says it has made a landmark agreement marking a "major step forward" for a "once in a generation" tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay. It said the deal, in partnership with Batri Ltd, would see the former Tir John landfill site transformed into a major new solar farm.
That will in turn create the clean energy foundation for a wider programme of renewable energy projects, including a proposed tidal lagoon, which will harness the power of the tides to generate predictable, renewable electricity.
The council said the wider project would "create thousands of skilled jobs and drive significant long-term economic growth" for Swansea and the wider area.
The solar farm development will take place in three phases, with planning permission in place for phase one. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here.
How the solar farm will look(Image: Swansea Council)

The solar farm is expected to generate around three megawatts of electricity at peak output — enough to power hundreds of homes — and will be funded through private investment, without the need for council or government money.
This will then help create the energy needed for the delivery of other elements of the overall project, which is being led by Batri Ltd in the area of Swansea port and Fabian Way.
Included in the project are a tidal lagoon, a data centre, a high-tech battery manufacturing plant, floating solar, and a renewable energy transport hub.
Leader of Swansea Council, Councillor Rob Stewart. 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.”
Chief technology officer at Batri, Stephen Hughes, added: “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.”
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