Monday’s session of the Senedd Cross Party Group on Renewable and Low Carbon Energy was a great success, with a record number (73) of attendees from the Senedd, Welsh Government and across the industry.
Chaired by Delyth Jewell MS, the CPG was delighted to have the opportunity to hear from Abi Beck, Jack Pugsley, Paul Maile and Eleri Davies.
Here are the key messages & findings from the session:
1️⃣ Wales has a c.£47bn renewable energy investment opportunity by 2035, promising economic growth, job creation, and community benefits.
2️⃣ Recent planning consents for major projects are a positive step, but faster planning and deployment are crucial to meet Wales’ 2030 and 2035 renewable energy targets.
3️⃣ The Welsh Government must be careful not to ‘give with one hand and take with the other’. Potential policy contradictions, for example regarding peat, national parks and land classification, could undermine renewable energy benefits.
4️⃣ Wales risks losing investment to Scotland and England without stable policies to maintain investor confidence and competitiveness.
5️⃣ There are two governments of the same party at either end of the M4 for the first time in 14 years, who are largely aligned on the urgency of the climate crisis. This could be beneficial to the industry, especially when it comes to the all-important issue of grid upgrades.
6️⃣ RenewableUK Cymru and IPPR are working in partnership on a report due to be published before Christmas. It calls for an All Nations Renewables Team comprising industry, governments, and key stakeholders such as NESO and Ofgem, to provide a laser-like focus on accelerating renewables.
If you are interested in hearing more about the work of the CPG, please get in touch with Daniel Taylor.