The report also calls for urgent work to address the skills gap so that Welsh citizens can take advantage of new green job opportunities.
“Investment in renewable energy and a thriving green economy presents a significant opportunity for Wales” said Samuel Kurtz MS, member of the Senedd's Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee. “Not only can it provide young Welsh people with quality jobs in their local communities, but it also has the potential to attract talent from around the world. Today’s report highlights the need for the Welsh Government to address loopholes in the definition of 'locally owned' renewable energy projects, ensuring that economic benefits remain within Wales. To maximise this investment, we must ensure that Wales has the necessary workforce skills for the economy of the future. The Welsh Government needs a clear understanding of where to strengthen our training and education system to help people prepare. Wales has immense potential to be a leader in the renewable energy sector, but the first step is for the Welsh Government to listen and act on our recommendations today.”
The Welsh Government has targets focusing on the local ownership of renewable energy developments. However, the Committee is concerned that the definition of ‘locally owned’ does not require the owners to live close to the project. This enables companies who have offices headquartered in Wales to exploit opportunities at the expense of local people.
Renewable energy projects can offer considerable benefits for local businesses and citizens through direct employment and the creation of sustainable supply chains. This has encouraged the Welsh Government to establish Ynni Cymru and Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru to support community energy projects and the development of renewable energy on the Welsh public estate. The Committee intends to closely monitor how these entities deliver on their objectives.
Onshore wind in particular has great potential for job creation, alongside the supply of clean renewable power for homes and businesses.
“Onshore wind not only represents the quickest route to the decarbonisation of Wales’ energy system, but also typically has higher levels of local and Welsh suppliers across the lifetime of the projects” said Bute Energy Community Investment and Communications Director Catryn Newton. “At Bute Energy we’re working tirelessly to set a new standard for our projects – whether that’s our Net Zero Skills Strategy, how we deploy our potential £20 million a year community benefit fund to benefit local communities, our social value in procurement standard. Our mission is not only to power Wales with clean energy but to maximise the investment in our clean energy transition to the benefit of Wales and our communities.”
Bute Energy, supported by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and the Welsh Pension Partnership, is currently developing the largest pipeline of onshore wind in Wales, capable of generating more than 2.2 GW of clean energy by 2030, enough to power 2.25m homes and create up to 2,000 new jobs. This will also enable local authority pension holders across the 8 member authorities to benefit directly from Welsh clean energy.
The company’s partnership with the Welsh Pension Partnership is aimed at being the most equitable form of community and shared ownership in Wales, enabling hundreds of thousands of Welsh pension holders to benefit from the transition to clean power. The company will also invest up to 25 percent of its Community Benefit Fund to support local community energy schemes which it will gift to communities, local services and charities in the communities nearest its energy parks.
For additional information:
