WALES is on the cusp of a £47 billion renewable energy investment wave that could transform its economy, create thousands of jobs, and breathe new life into communities. This promising outlook was unveiled today at the Future Energy Wales 2024 conference at Newport’s ICC, showcasing preliminary analysis by BiGGAR Economics on the economic potential of renewable energy across the nation.

Commissioned by RenewableUK Cymru, in partnership with Solar Energy UK and Marine Energy Wales, the study highlights the substantial economic gains Wales could achieve by meeting its renewable energy targets across onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, and tidal power.

The research projects an average annual investment of nearly £4 billion, reaching a peak of £7 billion by 2028. Offshore wind alone is expected to attract £32.4 billion, forming the foundation of Wales’ economic growth through 2035. However, capturing this opportunity requires an effective industrial strategy and substantial port infrastructure upgrades to support thousands of new, high-quality jobs.

While offshore wind presents long-term growth, onshore wind offers Wales a rapid boost, with a potential £4.5 billion in investments enabling an increase to over 3 GW capacity by 2035, contingent on addressing planning and grid capacity challenges.

The NESO 2030 Clean Power report underscores the need for grid reform to expedite renewable energy across the UK, but Wales remains hampered by immediate planning resource shortages.

The latest data from the 2024 Welsh wind power report shows a surge in renewable project interest, with Wales’ pipeline expanding by 18% this year, from 9 GW in 2023 to over 10.5 GW in November 2024, largely due to new onshore wind projects. However, with current deployment rates, Wales is forecast to contribute only 5% of the UK’s total wind capacity by 2035—well behind Scotland’s 64 GW target.

RenewableUK Cymru’s Call for Strategic Support

Jess Hooper, Director of RenewableUK Cymru, said:

“Wales stands at the threshold of a historic opportunity. By harnessing this renewable investment potential, we can secure Welsh jobs and build a robust, long-term local economy. But achieving this vision requires strong, immediate support from both the UK and Welsh governments.

“We urge a coordinated, four-nations approach to accelerate wind deployment and grid upgrades. With strategic investment in grid capacity and planning, wind energy can become central to Wales’ clean energy future—delivering real benefits for our climate, economy, and communities.”

£47 Billion Equals 208 Principality Stadiums

Nikki Keddie, Director at BiGGAR Economics, added:

“The scale of Wales’ renewables potential is extraordinary. The £47 billion needed to reach our targets is equivalent to building 208 Principality Stadiums. Investment in renewables will boost energy security, employment, industrial growth, and rural development.

“To maximise economic benefits, it’s crucial to dismantle barriers to project delivery and create opportunities for local businesses to capture value. We look forward to the next phase of this report, where we will detail the economic share Wales can secure.”

PEMBROKESHIRE COASTAL FORUM is set to host Nature and Marine Energy in Focus, an event exploring the intersection of marine renewable energy and nature conservation. With the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss intensifying, balancing renewable energy expansion with habitat protection has become crucial.

Scheduled for 27th November at 7:00pm at the Torch Theatre, the evening will feature key voices from the marine energy industry, conservation groups, and the community. A panel of experts will delve into the opportunities and challenges posed by marine renewable energy projects on local wildlife, examining how these initiatives might coexist with nature.

David Tudor, Co-Founder of Ocean and Coastal Futures and Pelagos, will host the event. Panel highlights include:

• The Crown Estate: Providing perspectives on seabed leasing for offshore wind projects.
• Emma Williams, Marine Biologist and Freediving Instructor with Celtic Deep: Offering insights into local marine life and its vital protection.
• Joseph Kidd, Afallen: Sharing lessons from marine energy projects and implications for future developments.
• Nadia Tomsa, Sea Trust: Focusing on marine conservation and community roles in biodiversity preservation.
• Will Cooke, OWC: Discussing responsible practices in project consenting, monitoring, and surveying.

The event will encourage an open conversation, with attendees invited to engage directly with the experts. Admission is free, though seating is limited to 100.

This forum is part of Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum’s Marine Energy Engagement Plan, an initiative funded by the Welsh Government’s Coastal Capacity Building Challenge Fund and the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund. The Plan seeks to empower local communities in Pembrokeshire to participate in marine renewable energy efforts through education and information.

For further details, visit the Torch Theatre website.

https://www.torchtheatre.co.uk/events/pembrokeshire-coastal-forum-nature-and-marine-energy-in-focus

A GREEN hydrogen fuel production facility by Pembroke Power Station has been approved by Pembrokeshire planners, despite a concern raised about the amount of water it will take from the county’s Llys y Fran reservoir.

An application by Pembroke RWE Generation UK plc for the construction of a green hydrogen production facility, with associated works including a water supply pipeline to the Pembroke Power Station and electrical supply connection to the National Grid Substation on land adjacent to Pembroke Power Station, was recommended for conditional approval at the November  meeting of the county council’s planning committee.

Green hydrogen is produced from water, in an electrolysing process using electricity obtained from renewable sources; the electrolyser site previously occupied by the power station’s sports and social club.

A report for planners stated: “The electrolyser is planned to be powered with ‘low carbon electricity supplied primarily via grid connected renewables’ and will create ‘green hydrogen’ for use in industrial processes. Water for the electrolyser will come from existing power station supplies.

“The pipeline corridor would supply hydrogen gas to the Valero Refinery. The pipeline corridor would follow the route of an existing natural gas pipeline. Most of the pipeline corridor would be underground, passing across farmland and a wooded area. It will emerge above ground within the Valero Refinery. The working width of the construction area for the pipeline is expected to be approximately 30m.”

Some of the final details are subject to potential change, members heard, but the maximum height of the flare stack would be 25m and the electrolyser building and compressor building would be up to 17m in height.

The report also quoted the applicant: “By bringing together technologies such as hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage, battery storage and floating offshore wind to the Pembroke area, RWE can help to decarbonise the energy sector in Wales for generations to come. RWE’s ambitions will build on Pembrokeshire’s local energy heritage, safeguarding existing jobs at the development site, while delivering a significant local economic investment and creating new jobs throughout construction and operation.”

Speaking at the November planning meeting, project development manager Zoe Harrison told members would make “a significant contribution to net zero,” the green fuel leading to approximately 90,000 tons less of Carbon Dioxide being produced a year, the equivalent of 18,000 cars being taken off the road.

Cllr Steve Alderman, who said he was in support of the proposal, raised the issue of the amount of water the facility would take from the Llys y Fran reservoir to produce two tons of hydrogen fuel per hour, members hearing nine kilos of water was needed for every kilo of hydrogen fuel produced by the electrolysing process.

Zoe Harrison said the water was available through an existing agreement with Welsh Water, and a suggestion by Cllr Alderman to look at desalinating seawater was not part of the current scheme but could potentially be looked at in the future.

Moving approval, Pembroke Dock councillor Brian Hall said: “I’m sure everybody does realise this is a very important project for Pembrokeshire full stop,” adding: “I can’t emphasise enough how the people in my area can’t wait for this development.”

Fellow Pembroke dock councillor Tony Wilcox also supported the proposal, saying of concerns about potential visual impacts: “To a certain extent, that horse has bolted, because it’s in the middle of a power station.”

Members unanimously supported delegated approval for the application.

The facility is expected to take 24 months to build, an earlier consultation on the scheme said, and could be built by early 2027.