- Welsh Government is finalising its approach to a National
Energy Strategy.
- The Strategy will set out a vision for a renewable energy
sector that retains value in Welsh communities.
The Welsh Government is finalising its approach to a National
Energy Strategy, which will be published later this year. It sets
out Welsh Government's vision for a low carbon energy system that
retains value in Welsh communities.
The outcome will map out Wales' current and future energy needs
and how it plans to deliver the infrastructure needed to meet
them. It will prioritise meaningful community ownership, reducing
bills, and ensuring the full benefits of low carbon energy are
maximised for Welsh communities.
It will also see renewable energy targets replaced by emissions
reductions and prioritise a clear evidence base to consider
options for where development should take place in Wales.
Communities will be central to this approach Welsh Government
will consider not only where projects can be delivered, but how
they can secure local support.
Changes will be required to how energy is planned, ensuring the
scale, location and impact of developments are properly
considered, while protecting productive agricultural land. This
represents a significant shift in how energy is delivered in
Wales.
The Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy,
, visited the Port of Mostyn and
Port of Milford Haven this week to discuss their critical role
supporting the offshore wind sector.
He said:
The transition to net zero is not just an environmental
necessity, it is a major, transformative economic opportunity.
Our ambition is to secure sustainable growth, attract further
investment, create high-quality jobs and support thriving
communities across Wales.
We are also determined that the communities hosting renewable
energy developments are genuine beneficiaries through a new Wales
Wealth Fund. As we create clean energy in Wales more of it will
be owned in Wales. This will be led by our approach to create the
Welsh Public Energy Company.
We will also develop Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru to create a single
national energy company to grow community and local ownership of
renewables, while ensuring energy developments are properly
considered through the planning system to balance local impact
with efficient delivery.
Alongside this work, we are progressing our policy on
undergrounding electricity infrastructure at 132kV and below. The
National Energy Strategy will set out the actions and timelines
to deliver on all of these changes.
Tom Sawyer, Chief Executive of the Port of Milford Haven, said:
Ports will play a vital role in supporting the growth of a
low carbon economy. As Wales' largest port and the UK's leading
energy port, we look forward to working alongside government and
industry to help deliver this vision.
"Wales can reduce emissions while retaining the industrial
capability, skilled jobs and energy infrastructure that underpin
our economy, and the Milford Haven Waterway is uniquely placed to
help deliver that ambition while ensuring the benefits are
retained within Welsh communities."
Jim O'Toole, Managing Director of the Port of Mostyn, said:
The Port of Mostyn was pleased to welcome the Cabinet Member to
our Port and to learn about the progress of the Welsh National
Energy Strategy. His visit also provided us with the opportunity
to brief him about our plans to expand our construction port
capabilities in readiness for the next generation of offshore
energy projects in the Irish and Celtic Seas.
