New renewable energy targets welcomed

24

January 2023

RenewableUK Cymru has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement that it wants 100 per cent of Wales’ electricity needs to come from renewable energy sources by 2035. The announcement is included in Welsh Government’s consultation into Wales’ Renewable Energy Targets.  

Jessica Hooper, Director of RenewableUK Cymru, said:

“This announcement is welcome news to the industry and will help to drive investor confidence.  But to reach this target we need to start building renewable energy projects at a pace and we can only do that if barriers are removed.  This includes making sure there are adequate resources in departments such as planning, and licensing, that we have the skilled people in place to build the projects and that investment is made in the right places.  In Wales, the key places that we need to see investment to unlock the potential of renewables is in grid and ports – without this we will not be able to build the infrastructure needed to support this ambition.

“In the last 12 months we have started to understand more about the potential that floating offshore wind offers to Wales.  But industry alone cannot deliver this.  We need the Welsh Government and Welsh MPs to put pressure on the UK Government to ensure the recommendations in the Energy Bill currently going through Parliament are taken forward immediately.

“It is indeed an ambitious target, and we look forward to working with our members and Welsh Government to help deliver it as quickly as possible.”

The full consultation document from Welsh Government is available here