PLANS for a green hydrogen production facility by Pembroke Power Station, which the applicants say “can establish Pembroke at the forefront of south Wales’ low carbon future,” and create new jobs are expected to be backed next week.

An application by Pembroke RWE Generation UK plc for the construction of a green hydrogen production facility with electrolysers, hydrogen gas storage, HV transformer and electrolyser control building, and hydrogen gas pipeline offtake; together with associated infrastructure, including water supply pipeline to the Pembroke Power Station and electrical supply connection to the National Grid Substation on land adjacent to Pembroke Power Station is recommended for conditional approval at the November 5 meeting of the county council’s planning committee.

The electrolyser site was previously occupied by the power station’s sports and social club.

A report for planners states: “A green hydrogen facility is proposed that would comprise the main electrolyser area, a hydrogen gas pipeline corridor, an electrical connection to a high voltage transformer and an area for connections into the Pembroke Power Station and a cable corridor for connection into the National Grid Substation.

“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.

“The applicant states that some of the final design aspects and features of the proposed development within the electrolyser site ‘cannot be confirmed at this design stage as these depend on the appointment of an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor. This may include the heights of buildings, structures and plant and the arrangement of features defined by zones’, nevertheless the maximum height of the flare stack would be 25m and the electrolyser building and compressor building would be up to 17m in height. All other equipment would be of lower height than the electrolyser building.”

The report also quotes from the applicant: “The proposed development forms part of the Pembroke Net Zero Centre (PNZC) initiative which will see RWE diversify its energy generation portfolio to demonstrate a pathway towards decarbonisation.

“RWE’s vision for the PNZC has a critical role to play in Wales’ and the UK’s pathway to Net Zero. By decarbonising its current operations at the power station, while investing in new innovative technologies at the development site, RWE can establish Pembroke at the forefront of South Wales’ low carbon future. The proposals for RWE Pembroke Green Hydrogen form part of this ambition.

“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.”

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

PRESELI Pembrokeshire Senedd Member, Paul Davies, has tabled a debate in the Senedd on the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals and its Farming Connect programme. Mr Davies is the Chair of the Senedd’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, which held inquiries into these matters earlier this year.

The debate is being held today, 23^rd October, and will consider the reports published by the Committee, as well as a further report on the Sustainable Farming Scheme by the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee.

Mr Davies said: “I’d like to thank everyone that took part in the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs inquiries into the Sustainable Farming Scheme and Farming Connect. The evidence that was received was extremely helpful in scrutinising the Welsh Government on these important issues.

“The reality is that significant changes are needed so that farmers across Wales can better understand what is expected of them. The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee is calling on the Welsh Government to demonstrate how they are adapting their plans to meet the needs of our agriculture industry and our environment, and I look forward to hearing what the Deputy First Minister has to say.

“It’s absolutely crucial that the Welsh Government makes the Sustainable Farming Scheme as accessible as possible to all farmers, regardless of their farm type and tenure, and it must also strike a better balance between protecting the future of farming and food production and also tackling climate and nature emergencies.”

WALES’ economy secretary vowed to make speeding up planning decisions a top priority as part of a push towards clean energy.

Rebecca Evans committed to a sector deal with Wales’ renewable energy industry, which she said will include action to accelerate planning decisions and provide greater clarity.

Ms Evans warned council planning departments were “stripped back” due to austerity as she provided an update on the green economy to the Senedd on October 15.

She said: “For their part, I expect the sector to support our ambitions for local ownership and the development of skills and investment in our communities, including the environment.”

The economy secretary said the UK Government’s industrial strategy, unveiled on Monday, identified the role of green industries in driving economic growth.

Ms Evans also pointed to a Welsh Government consultation on implementing reforms aimed at streamlining the consenting process for major infrastructure projects.

She argued Wales is leading the way in establishing public energy companies, pointing to Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru and Ynni Cymru, which will develop projects and retain income.

The minister told the debating chamber that Wales has an onshore development pipeline of more than 5GW, and a further 18GW through fixed and floating offshore wind.

Ms Evans added that the Welsh Government will hold a consultation on carbon capture and storage technologies as well as hydrogen in the coming weeks.

She said: “Wales has its place in history using our natural resources to power the industrial revolution but we enter a new era where the power we need across our economy and wider society supports a new industrial transformation for our economy and our communities.”

Samuel Kurtz warned Wales is far from unlocking its potential for renewable energy.

The Conservatives’ shadow economy secretary said investors and developers are being held back by countless planning barriers.

He told the Senedd: “It is vital that these obstacles, like delays in consenting, planning, grid-capacity issues, skills shortages and supply-chain readiness are addressed swiftly.”

Ms Evans recognised grid infrastructure constraints, saying the first minister has made the case and the UK Government “absolutely does get that”.

Mr Kurtz also raised concerns about a skills shortage and urged the Welsh Government to “tear down” barriers for small businesses in the supply chain.

His Conservative colleague Paul Davies called on ministers to prioritise investment that leverage private sector funding to make Wales a global leader.

Luke Fletcher, Plaid Cymru’s shadow economy secretary, warned of history repeating itself.

“Wales is, once again, being cast in the role of resource provider,” he said.

“Wind, wave, land and sea bed are exploited while the financial gains and innovation returns are largely captured by external actors.”

Calling for more powers, Mr Fletcher pointed out that larger renewable energy projects that exceed 350MW remain outside of Welsh control.

He said the UK Government has roundly rejected calls to devolve the Crown Estate despite Welsh Labour’s support and powers already being given to Scotland.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth expressed concerns about plans for solar farms in his Ynys Mon constituency covering thousands of acres of good agricultural land.

His predecessor Adam Price accused the UK Government of creating a narrative that projects must be large scale, swift and low cost regardless of other considerations.

Similarly, Jane Dodds, for the Liberal Democrats, called for investment in cable ploughing to avoid the use of pylons snaking through the countryside.

And Carolyn Thomas raised concerns about fossil fuel companies “greenwashing” as she criticised plans for a “massive” carbon dioxide pipeline from north Wales to Liverpool.

Alun Davies, a fellow Labour backbencher, warned it will be difficult for the Welsh Government to achieve any of its ambitions without devolution of the Crown Estate.

Calling for equitable treatment, he suggested some parts of Wales, such as his Blaenau Gwent constituency, have shouldered more responsibility for clean energy than others.