Eurostat recently published renewable energy statistics, showing that the UK was the furthest behind meeting its 2020 renewable energy targets out of any EU country.
The UK doesn’t publish sub-national figures for renewable energy in total – just for electricity. Assuming that Wales doesn’t differ hugely from the other UK countries in terms of production of renewable transport fuels and renewable heat, we can use the generation of electricity as a proxy for all renewables.
The picture that emerges is bleak; Wales currently generates the smallest proportion of electricity from renewable sources of any UK country. As such, Wales is now officially the worst-performing country in Europe, in respect of the mandatory 2020 targets.
In looking at this, we shouldn’t neglect the big picture. Wales doesn’t – yet – have the authority to set itself renewable energy targets.
Welsh Ministers have therefore not hitherto been given the responsibility to ensure that renewable energy generation in Wales is supported enough to meet our proportion of the UK’s total contribution.
The recent St David’s Day agreement1 has changed the game for Wales. Welsh Ministers now have the ability to consent projects. With those powers, come the ability to ensure that targets are met, eliminating a significant barrier to setting targets.
Commenting on the figures, David Clubb said:
“Welsh Government has made significant strides to improve the planning and consenting regime in Wales, and although these figures look grim, they are more a picture of our political and institutional legacy than a barometer for the future.
“The St David’s Day agreement gives Ministers much more control over energy policy in Wales, and we very much look forward to working with local authorities, Welsh Government and civil society to support the rapid growth of all forms of renewable energy.
“We have a mountain to climb in order to prove that we are worthy of the title we have claimed for ourselves – that Wales is a country which places sustainability at its heart. But the prize that awaits will be a more resilient, more prosperous, less polluted country; and a strong industry which supports good quality jobs for now and way into the future.”
1. The St David’s Day agreement passes responsibility for consenting energy projects up to 350 MW to Welsh Ministers.