MS, Cabinet Minister for
Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: In our manifesto we set out
the case for a single Welsh Public Energy Company, owned by the
people of Wales and working for the people of Wales. Today, I am
launching a 12-week public consultation on
proposals for the future development of Wales's public energy
functions, including the establishment of this company.
Our ambition is clear. Wales must build more of the clean energy
it needs, own more of it, and benefit more directly from it. More
clean power, more public consent and more Welsh ownership will
mean more economic and social value retained in Wales, supporting
a stronger and more prosperous Welsh economy. Wales has made good
progress in planning for our clean energy future. We now need to
deliver, with a clear focus on decentralisation, matching clean
energy generation to Wales's natural resources and supporting
local use.
The consultation seeks views on how we can bring together
existing public energy functions into a single Welsh Public
Energy Company. The proposed company would help take our existing
energy plans through to financed, Welsh-owned, operating
projects. It will accelerate delivery, strengthen public sector
capability, support community and local ownership, and retain a
greater share of the value from the energy transition in Wales.
At a local scale, there are significant opportunities to support
communities, co-operatives, local authorities and other public
bodies to develop and own renewable energy projects, including
onshore wind and solar. The consultation also seeks views on how
smarter local energy systems can be accelerated across Wales.
This includes exploring models such as homes and buildings acting
as power stations, community batteries, local heat networks,
mine-water heat, local tariffs, and other approaches that help
match local generation with local demand. These approaches can
help households, businesses and communities play a more active
role in the energy system of the future.
For developments of national significance and scale, such as the
major opportunities presented by offshore wind, Wales must be
positioned to land clean power, capture value, support our
industries and create good Welsh jobs.
This consultation is an important step in moving from ambition to
delivery. It will help shape how Wales strengthens its public
energy capability, increases Welsh ownership, supports
communities, and ensures more of the benefits from the clean
energy transition are retained here in Wales.
I encourage individuals, communities, public bodies, businesses
and stakeholders across Wales to respond to the consultation and
help shape the next stage of Wales's clean energy future.
The consultation will close on 30 November 2026.
This statement is being issued during recess to keep Members
informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or
to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be
happy to do so.
