RenewableUK Cymru has backed Welsh Minister for Climate Change Julie James’ call to urgently upgrade Wales’ electricity grid network.
James told the Senedd that the deployment of new infrastructure to market forces will not “maximise the benefits to the people of Wales”.
Instead, a proactive, co-ordinated approach is needed, working in social partnership between Government, business and communities, she argued.
James added: “To enable UK decision making to take account of Welsh interests, we must set out clearly our expectations for the transmission network, based on a strong evidence base that reflects the future needs of Wales’s economy, environment and communities.
In response, RenewableUK Cymru’s Director, Jess Hooper (pictured) said: “We support the Welsh Government’s recognition of the necessary proactive coordinated action required and the urgent need for new infrastructure to move away from fossil fuels.
“It is imperative we take action now, and we look forward to working with them to understand the scale and scope of the infrastructure needed.
“Our recent report, ‘The Critical Role of Welsh Wind Power’, highlights that Wales needs to quadruple how much wind power it generates in just over a decade in order to stay on track to meet the Welsh Government’s target for electricity to be 100% renewable by 2035.
“The shift away from fossil fuels is bringing about a rapid change in our energy system, and the success of this transition is underpinned by the need for a significant amount of new transmission and distribution infrastructure, in the form of cables, substations and pylons.
“Determining the best locations for both energy generation and demand will give us an integrated solution with the least possible cost and impact.
“It also supports a significant necessity for parts of Mid Wales in terms of electricity provision, broadband connectivity, and enabling a clean energy supply for heating and transport systems.”