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Climate

RenewableUK Cymru demands next government supercharge Wales’ green energy

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AS the UK General Election heats up, Britain’s energy policy is taking centre stage. RenewableUK Cymru is calling on the next UK Government to fast-track Wales’ transition to renewable energy.

Wales must quadruple its wind power capacity—from both onshore and offshore—within the next decade to meet the rising demand for clean electricity. Our 2024 Manifesto urges the creation of a ‘Four Nations Taskforce’ to streamline policies between the UK and Welsh Governments.

Only a quarter of all energy generated in Wales today comes from renewable sources like wind, solar, hydro and tidal. A shift to renewable energy will bolster energy security, lower electricity costs, enhance the competitiveness of Welsh businesses, and create thousands of jobs nationwide.

Voters are clear: they want the next UK Government to prioritise clean energy. A poll by Opinium of 10,021 UK residents reveals that nine out of ten people in Wales see renewables as a key issue for the next government, and 63% want their MP to push for more investment in this sector. Despite some opposition to new grid infrastructure in Mid Wales, 62% of Welsh respondents support building a new grid network to speed up renewable energy rollout, with only 6% opposed. Support increases when people learn about local community benefits and how it fits into a national plan for low-cost clean energy.

Jess Hooper, Director of RenewableUK Cymru, said: “For Wales to succeed, we need a bold and swift action plan. In 2022, we had no projects connecting to the grid and only 6kW of wind energy consented—barely enough to power a single household.

“We are not building enough renewable energy projects to meet our growing electricity demand. We urge the next UK Government to establish a four nations taskforce, in collaboration with the Welsh Government and industry, to accelerate the transition to renewables across the UK. At this crucial moment in a competitive global market, we need a government ready to stand up and seize this opportunity for Wales.”

Climate

Net-zero Wales and the generation game

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THIS WEEK’S episode of Panorama explored the significant clean energy projects creating tension across Britain.

“Rewiring Britain: The Race to Go Green” examined the UK’s efforts to create a greener, more sustainable energy infrastructure. It highlighted the challenges and opportunities associated with reducing carbon emissions, increasing renewable energy sources, and modernizing the national grid.

The programme incidentally highlighted an unusual set of data about Wales’s contribution of net-zero energy to the UK’s National Grid.

BBC Reporter Justin Rowlatt visited the headquarters of the National Energy System Operator (NESO). NESO ensures that Great Britain has the necessary energy by matching supply with demand every second of every day.It also monitors the contributions made to the UK energy grid from net-zero sources.

In a cutaway shot establishing that just over half of the UK’s energy came from net-zero sources.
The UK is divided into six distribution network licence areas, as shown in the screenshot accompanying this article.

What draws the eye, at least Welsh eyes, is the amount of net-zero energy provided by the area covering South Wales and South West England.

That amount was zero on the day the BBC attended NESO HQ. Given the number of large green energy infrastructure projects in South Wales, this seems astonishing. It is even more astonishing when one considers the large green energy projects across the South West of England.

An examination of the data underlying the chart shows why that is the case: almost three-quarters of ALL energy generated in South Wales comes from fossil fuels. That means that all of the net-zero energy generated in South Wales is consumed in the region and is not exported as surplus to the UK Grid.

To check our conclusion we asked NESO a series of questions, the answers to which confirmed that South Wales (the figures for North Wales are in the North West area on the screenshot), was not a net exporter of green energy to the grid.

When we checked earlier this week, we confirmed that was still the case.

Those data appear to run a coach and horses through claims that Wales is leading the way in green energy.

As it stands, South Wales isn’t even generating enough net-zero energy to power homes and businesses across South Wales. As planned green energy projects, such as the controversial plan to erect a chain of pylons and windfarms across rural Wales, focus on energy production for homes and businesses outside Wales, the benefits to the South Wales economy of supposedly “green” infrastructure projects appear marginal.

The UK government asserts that building new pylons, solar plants, wind turbines, and electricity substations is essential for achieving its ambitious goal of decarbonizing the country’s electricity by 2030. To expedite these projects and stimulate the economy, the government plans to “streamline” the planning process. However, many protesters contend that this approach risks overlooking their objections.

While some praise the UK government’s reforms, which aim to accelerate energy projects, there has also been significant criticism. Many stakeholders—including environmental groups, local communities, and planning experts—express concerns about the erosion of local democracy and community input. Critics warn that these proposed changes may undermine local decision-making by prioritizing national targets over community interests and feedback.
Despite the necessity of green energy projects for reducing carbon emissions, there are worries that large developments, such as solar farms and wind turbines, could negatively impact local ecosystems and biodiversity if not carefully managed.

Furthermore, the government faces criticism for not adequately addressing how to balance the need for renewable energy with other priorities, including housing development and infrastructure. The use of agricultural land for solar farms or bioenergy crops raises additional concerns about food security and the loss of productive farmland.

Large-scale renewable projects, especially wind turbines, can significantly alter landscapes. This has led to resistance from residents and conservationists who value the rural areas’ visual and cultural heritage. For example, in Lincolnshire, proposed solar farms are set to cover an area larger than Greater Manchester. Critics argue that the government’s focus on large-scale projects overlooks the potential benefits of smaller, community-led initiatives and energy efficiency measures, which could also play a crucial role in decarbonization.

The drive to achieve net zero, or at least energy self-sufficiency and energy security, is admirable in intent. However, marrying ambitions and outputs with the views of those whose homes, land, and lives will be most affected by the infrastructure and structures needed to support them is as far away as ever.

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Business

Giant solar farm could be built on edge of Haverfordwest

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THE EARLY stages of a scheme for a potential 20MW solar farm just a mile from Haverfordwest which it is said would provide power for 6,000 homes has been submitted to county planners.

Amberside Energy Ltd submitted a scoping opinion to Pembrokeshire County Council for the for the proposed solar farm and grid connection on land close to Haverfordwest golf club, just off the main A40 road, ahead of a formal application.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Request for land to the north of the A40/Narberth Road, And East of Haverfordwest, Boulston and Slebech was prepared by Stephenson Halliday Ltd, on behalf of Amberside Energy Ltd has been adopted by council planners prior to the submission of a formal planning application.

Supporting documents with the request say: “The proposed development will export approximately 20MW which is anticipated to connect to the national grid at the nearby substation located approximately 500m west of the site’s access.  The proposed development will comprise solar photovoltaic panels, inverters, perimeter stock fencing, access tracks, and CCTV. Planning permission will be sought for a temporary period of 40 years from the date of first exportation of electricity.

“The planning application submission will include the private wire grid connection, facilitated via underground cables to connect the Solar Farm to the point of connection.”

It adds: “The photovoltaic panels within the Site would generate up to 20MW of electricity, to be exported to the national grid. The Proposed Development will produce enough clean energy for approximately 6,000 homes, helping to contribute to the Government’s legally binding Net Zero target and to secure the nation’s energy supply in the context of a volatile global market.”

It says the site is adjacent to two separate solar developments with separate grid connections; Shoalshook Solar farm and Fenton Home Solar farm, but would operate in isolation to any of these neighbouring solar farms.

A formal planning application will be supported by a Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA), the application says, adding: “Overall, given the siting and nature of the proposed development, no significant visual impacts are anticipated.”

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Climate

GB energy bill backed despite concerns Senedd could be bypassed

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SENEDD Members signed off on Westminster’s GB energy bill despite concerns about duplication and the Welsh Parliament being bypassed in future.

Llŷr Gruffydd raised concerns about the “inadequacies” of the legislative consent motion (LCM) process by which the Senedd consents to UK legislation on devolved matters.

The Senedd climate committee chair warned of potential overlap between GB Energy and the Welsh Government’s Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, two publicly owned energy companies.

Mike Hedges, who chairs the legislation committee, said clause six of the bill would confer wide-ranging powers on UK ministers that could have a direct impact on devolved areas.

He pointed out that assurances on consultation from the UK Government are not binding.

Labour MS Mike Hedges
Labour MS Mike Hedges

Mr Hedges said: “This does not adequately reflect the Senedd as a legitimate democratic legislative body for Wales and does not address the fact that the Senedd will be sidelined during the future exercise of the delegated powers.”

Samuel Kurtz, the Conservatives’ shadow economy secretary, described GB Energy as “yet another example of Labour’s habit of overpromising and underdelivering”.

He said: “Keir Starmer pledged that GB Energy would cut household bills by £300 and create 1,000 new jobs in Aberdeen, but within weeks, the reality is unravelling.

“GB Energy’s own chairman admits that delivering on these promises could take upwards of 20 years and, even worse, in the short term, the number of jobs created will be around 200 or 300 – far short of the 1,000 promised during the election.”

Conservative MS Samuel Kurtz speaking in the Senedd
Samuel Kurtz, Conservative shadow minister for economy, energy, and the Welsh language

Describing the bill as a gimmick, Mr Kurtz added: “It won’t lower bills tomorrow; it won’t lower bills next year or even in five years. GB Energy chair Juergen Maier couldn’t even say when the mythical £300 savings would occur.”

Labour’s Lee Waters raised the example of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund which invests in renewable energy around the world.

He told the chamber: “Surely, for energy generated within these lands, it’s not absurd for our own government to want to capture that for the benefit of our citizens rather than the benefit of other countries’ citizens.”

Labour MS Lee Waters

Plaid Cymru’s Luke Fletcher said: “The government itself has said that there is little information on the operational and practical aims of GB Energy, that is of concern.”

He concluded: “What we need to see is what is GB Energy about, where is it going, how is it going to interact with those Welsh institutions.

“That’s the important thing here – the sovereignty of the Welsh Government and this place. For that reason, we’ll be voting against the LCM.”

Rebecca Evans pointed to an amendment under clause five which strengthened a requirement to consult Welsh ministers to a requirement to gain consent.

The Welsh Government’s economy secretary said: “Where time allows, we will provide an opportunity for the Senedd to express a view before consent is formally given.”

Rebecca Evans, cabinet secretary for economy, energy and planning
Rebecca Evans, cabinet secretary for economy, energy and planning

Ms Evans told the Senedd: “I see this as really being an opportunity for strong collaboration, rather than an area where we should be concerned about duplication, competition or conflict.

“I think there are wonderful opportunities for us to work with Great British Energy to realise the huge renewable energy potential that we have here in Wales.”

Senedd Members voted 30-26 in favour of legislative consent on February 4, with Labour and the Lib Dems in favour while Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives were against.

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