Battery factory could bring 1,000 new jobs
PLANS for a 1,000-job new battery factory for the renewables sector in South Wales have been revealed.
While it would require a major fundraising round, Bridgend-based DST Innovations is working with mainly US backers and investors to bring a manufacturing facility to Swansea for a new generation of batteries providing an alternative to lithium by using organic materials, such as coal.
The technology developed by DST is based on transforming materials such as coal in hard carbon for use in specialist offshore and coastal energy batteries, which can store and release energy more efficiently.
DST Innovations, which is better known for lighting solutions with clients including
Las Vegas casinos, has formed a joint venture with its American partner Blue Rock Manufacturing and its backers.
Based on DST Innovations’ new battery intellectual property (IP) known as BATRI, work is advancing on a first factory in West Virginia in the US, which will employ 1,000. It is scheduled to open later this year.
The plan is to create a sister plant, employing the same number of people, in Swansea.
DST is working with Swansea Council to identify a preferred location for the factory, which could require a £50m investment.
The ownership split for the manufacturing facilities is DST with 70% due to its IP with the remainder held by Blue Rock Manufacturing.
To develop its latest technology DST has secured a £1.25m investment, including from its owner backers and those in the US, to expand its battery research facility in Bridgend. This phase will create up to 25 new scientific roles in preparation for large-scale battery manufacturing on both sides of the Atlantic.
Tony Miles, chief executive of DST, said “This expansion is exciting for both DST and for Wales. We are creating a greener alternative to the existing chemical and lithium batteries. Our technology significantly reduces the problems surrounding recycling and the disposal of raditional batteries, along with providing safe energy storage, even in extreme environments.”
The BATRI products are specifically designed to operate in extreme environments due to their energy cells being less adversely affected by extreme temperature.
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said: “We very much welcome this announcement. We continue to work closely with DST to find a suitable site in Swansea to create a facility that would deliver world leading battery technology.”
Cllr Stewart said any factory in Swansea could look to utilise Welsh coal as part of a
“circular economy” solution.
The council will soon hold talks over the project with Democrat senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin, who will play a key role in President Joe Biden’s green energy strategy.
DST are also part of a consortium behind the proposed £1.4bn Dragon Energy Island project, off the coast of Swansea.
It has emerged after the failure of a previous tidal lagoon project. There is potential for its batteries to be embedded in the walls of any new lagoon scheme.
Governor of West Virginia Jim Justice said: “This is yet another wonderful step for our incredible business partners in Wales and we are excited beyond belief to be a part of this innovative project.
“We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this gamechanging effort in new energy, especially as a state known for our mining and natural resources.
“Much like Wales, we in West Virginia appreciate what it means to cultivate our resources to power our communities.”
DST said it couldn’t give a timescale on when any factory in Swansea could become operational.
IT TAKES a creative, and some might say bold, homeowner to inject a period home with their own style and personality while incorporating the beauty of the home’s vintage past.
Not everyone succeeds in blending imported style with the period bones of an older house, but this substantial detached house arguably succeeds completely.
Located on the popular and rather posh Park Street heading out of the town of Bridgend the house, called Plas Hyfryd, is thought to have been one of the first, and one of the grandest, homes to be built on the road.
As well as ample parking for cars and larger vehicles, the first surprise at this property is the views from the garden over the town’s rooftops to the hilltops on the horizon.
Before entering the period property that is said to date back to 1870 it’s worth taking a turn around the garden.
Especially from the main patio there are some surprising rooftop views to discover when you consider the house is situated in the suburbs of this busy south Wales town.
The large bay window of the main lounge, the first floor Juliet balcony and an attic glass dormer all take advantage of the bonus views from the home’s elevated position.
Once you can break away from scanning the surrounding landscape view, the views inside are pretty engaging too.
Each room offers a yummy feast for the eyes with the period features, furniture and accessories all providing a tantalising course that when combined produces a very satisfying interiors meal.
There’s plenty to catch your eye and invite you to linger in each space. Each room’s interior design feels well curated, with all elements working in harmony to impress, even in the downstairs toilet.
From the white flamingo statue on the sideboard in the eclectic dining room to the smooth lines and high-end elegant kitchen, each space has its own personality and vignettes of style that would not look out of place in a glossy interiors magazine. The hall immediately shouts the vintage of the home, with an abundance of Minton floor tiles happily greeting your feet and a decorative archway, picture rail, cornice and a pretty stained glass internal door happily added to the classic period features list.
As well as the more obvious fireplaces and floors, the house can still boast more subtle period grandeur through its tall ceilings, original internal doors, deep skirting boards and picture rails.
To the left of the hall is the large lounge, boasting the bay window and the views. The space is warm and welcoming, with classic-design furniture inviting you to sit and relax.
Warm mustard accents and textured, tactile fabrics all add to the cosy, calm and comfortable space.
Opposite the lounge is a separate dining room and this vibrant space is alive with colours, textures, patterns and oodles of the homeowner’s treasures and curiosities.
It’s not hard to imagine engaging and animated conversation over the dinner table in this stimulating room, not least about the personal items on display that make this room a showcase of eclectic style.
The original features easily visually hold their own in this space, with the robust fireplace anchoring the playful, colourful decor with its cool marble.
The floorboards are an original triumph and the chandelier and the gold gilt mirror add vintage style to the room when combined with the choice of traditional furniture.
The clever placement of a mirror within the alcove between two windows visually increases the length of the room as well as the impact of the items on display.
Wander to the rear of the property and to the left there’s a handy home office study and utility room.
The study is another engaging space and this time the room is bathed in calm heritage green tones conducive to peaceful thinking, surrounded by intriguing accessories and classic furniture pieces.
Again, it’s not hard to imagine yourself in this quiet room, sitting in an armchair in front of the period fireplace enjoying a good book.
But arguably everyone is eventually going to gravitate towards the rear open-plan kitchen-diner and lounge.
Here the soft grey tones, natural materials, parquet flooring and white walls combine to create a luxurious area that has layers of contemporary elegance but celebrates period style too.
Arguably the standout feature in this room is the fireplace with built-in vintage oven that has been painted grey since the house was last sold in November 2014.
At that time, there was a wall between this rear reception room and the adjoining room. Since then, this wall has been partially demolished to create this sociable openplan space.
The addition of bi-fold doors to the garden at the end of the space creates the indoor outdoor connection so popular with current buyers.
The kitchen is an elegant space with touches of traditional such as Shakerstyle units and hanging lights over the table combined with high-end extras such as quartz worktops, integrated appliances including a Smeg oven and microwave, and a wine cooler.
Glossy white surfaces and sophisticated cream furniture are showcased in this light filled kitchen that is also bathed in colour from the garden scene framed by the wall of glass doors at the end.
On the first floor there is a family bathroom and three spacious bedrooms, two of which enjoy elevated views of the town below and the hills and sky above.
One of these rooms has a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite that looks like it has been lifted from a luxury five-star hotel, with marble tiles and accents of brass adding to the elegant understated glamour.
But this bedroom is currently not the master bedroom. This can be found up another flight of stairs into the converted loft.
On this upper floor can be found a bedroom so big that it used to be a selfcontained living space when the house was sold in 2014.
The bedroom has characterful beams punctuating the undulating ceiling, handy built-in storage, an ensuite and light streaming in from the glass dormer.
If a noisy teenager or two are making the move to this stylish abode too, then maybe this bedroom and this whole second floor is the perfect place to create their own personal space.
■ Plas Hyfyd is on the market for £649,950 with estate agent Watts and Morgan. Call their Bridgend branch on 01656 644288 to find out more.