Statkraft’s chief executive and First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford have met in Oslo to celebrate Statkraft’s investments in helping Wales to meet its net zero targets.
Statkraft’s pipeline of projects in Wales has an estimated value of £250m and includes plans to develop 1GW of renewable projects.
Statkraft has also opened a new base of operations in Cardiff to boost its Welsh efforts.
These commitments build on their existing portfolio in Wales which includes the Alltwalis wind farm in Carmarthenshire, which alone has distributed £1m to the local areas through Statkraft’s Community Benefit Fund, and the Rheidol hydropower plant, the largest of its kind in Wales.
Drakeford (pictured, right) said: “While energy prices for homeowners continues to rise we need to use more home-grown renewable energy.
“We shouldn’t rely on expensive imports of carbon-producing fuels – that is not the future.
“I’m buoyed by the meeting today with Statkraft and by their planned investment in the renewable potential of Wales.”
The combined efforts between Wales and Statkraft will help Wales to meet its ambitious net zero target before 2050.
To date the Statkraft team has facilitated 325MW of renewable power purchase agreements, using the clean energy produced from an estimated 30 Welsh renewable projects.
This power is sold through Bryt Energy to businesses across Wales and the UK, as well as traded into the wholesale markets.
Please find the full release below and find attached an image of First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford meeting with Statkraft CEO Christian Rynning-Tønnesen at Statkraft’s Oslo offices. Let me know if you have any questions.