GCRE extends hunt for energy & data partner to 2026

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence has extended its competition to appoint an Energy and Data Centre Partner for its 700-hectare site in South West Wales, after bidders asked for more time to develop proposals.

The project centres on a new rail research and testing facility planned on a former opencast mine site. The organisation has also pursued a partner for renewable energy generation and a data centre on the same land.

GCRE began its partner search last year. It said it has received what it described as significant market interest from energy and data centre developers. It also said bidders wanted additional time to prepare detailed submissions.

GCRE has now extended the procurement into 2026. It has issued a revised Invitation to Tender on the Sell2Wales platform. Interested parties must complete a Conditions of Participation document to enter the process. The deadline runs until 12 noon on 10th March 2026.

Site plans

The site spans about 700 hectares across the former Nant Helen opencast site and Onllwyn Washery. GCRE compares the overall scale to Gatwick Airport.

GCRE's plan places renewable energy sources and a data centre alongside the rail development. The organisation has also maintained a separate process to secure private investment for the railway.

Chief Executive Simon Jones said the extended timeline reflects the time needed for bidders to complete their plans.

"The last few weeks have been very encouraging as we have seen the significant interest there is from the commercial market in the GCRE site as a location for high quality renewable energy and data centre infrastructure.

"What's clear however, is that more time is needed for bidders to develop their proposals. It has meant that we have taken the decision as a company to extend our partner search and give everyone in the market more time to put forward proposals.

"That is why we have issued a new ITT with an extended timeline to allow that interest to crystalise into firm proposals. We had originally hoped to appoint a partner by the end of the current Senedd term, but that has not been possible and so we have extended the time available into 2026.

"The opportunity for a long-term partnership with GCRE is a unique one. The GCRE site's size, power grid and telecoms connectivity make it very appealing for the development of renewable energy assets and data centre infrastructure. 132kV and 400kV power lines cross over the GCRE site, with high quality fibre connectivity being progressed for the area.

"It's right that we take time to find the correct partner. Energy and data centre infrastructure at GCRE will help raise the economic profile of the site, something that is very important as we continue our search for private investment for the rail project."," said Simon Jones, Chief Executive, GCRE.

Infrastructure focus

GCRE highlighted the physical and digital infrastructure around the proposed development. It said 132kV and 400kV power lines cross the site. It also said fibre connectivity work is progressing in the area.

The site sits about 30km from Bridgend and 50km from Cardiff. GCRE said data centre clusters are already forming around Cardiff.

The partner process for energy and data infrastructure runs alongside GCRE's efforts to raise private capital for the rail facility. GCRE said it was established in 2021 and it continues to pursue funding for the wider scheme.

Policy backdrop

GCRE also linked the partner search to shifts in energy policy and the growth of artificial intelligence. It referenced recent UK policy moves and regional designations in South Wales.

"We have seen in recent months the important ways in which the energy and AI policy landscape is developing fast. The UK is seeking to harness the opportunities of net zero transition and AI by developing the infrastructure needed to support it. This region is at the forefront of that change - just recently South Wales was designated as a new AI Growth Zone by the UK Government.

"GCRE and the modern energy and data infrastructure we can build on the site is one of those opportunities and it's something we believe we can use as a platform for new green jobs around an international rail cluster."," said Jones.