Commission’s new report
highlights recommended steps to accelerate renewable energy.
Launching its latest report today, “Preparing
Wales for a Renewable Energy 2050”, the National Infrastructure Commission for
Wales (NICW) has outlined key recommendations to assist the Welsh Government in
achieving a net zero Wales by 2050.
The new report is the Commission’s first major
piece of work since it was refreshed last year and has seen it undertake
research into how the Welsh Government can capture the value of renewable
energy to Wales, what opportunities and challenges lie ahead and how the Welsh
Government can best engage the public on this issue.
In this latest report, NICW provides eleven recommendations
to Welsh Ministers on how changes can be made to enhance renewable energy
development in Wales that best meets the needs of Welsh communities. These
recommendations cover the areas of leadership and strategic approach; a grid
for the future; the built environment; the planning system; community benefits
& ownership; and the Crown Estate, and the Commission believe that,
collectively, they could result in a step-change for Wales to meet its carbon targets.
Speaking on the importance of the
recommendations, Dr Jenifer Baxter, Deputy Chair of National Infrastructure
Commission for Wales, said:
“We are now facing time
in our history where if we do not make a concerted effort to change how we
deliver new infrastructure then our ambitions for net zero and the well-being
of future generations will be in jeopardy.”
Aleena Khan, National Infrastructure Commission
for Wales (NICW) Commissioner and Chair of the NICW Renewable Energy Project
Advisory Group said:
“As a young person, I
understand the importance of Wales’ acting decisively in tackling the climate
and nature emergencies. I hope the Welsh Government will consider each of our
proposals carefully and the impact they will make on us meeting our energy and
carbon targets.
It has been really positive to work with a number of organisations to
produce this report showing that, taking a team Wales approach, we can together
to seize the opportunities before us.”
Nick Tune, National Infrastructure Commission
for Wales (NICW) Commissioner and lead Commissioner for the NICW Renewable
Energy work said:
“The deployment of
renewable energy in Wales is currently not moving at the pace required to
address the climate emergency and subsequently the needs of the people of
Wales.
This report identifies
critical actions that are required by the Welsh Government to deliver their
target i.e., meeting 100% of its annual electricity demand from renewable
sources by 2035 whilst delivering tangible benefits for the people of Wales.”
It is expected that the Welsh Government will
respond in due course to the recommendations proposed by the Commission.
Ends
Notes
NICW was established in
2018 as an independent, non-statutory, advisory body to Welsh Ministers. Its primary
purpose is to analyse, advise and make recommendations on Wales’ longer term
strategic economic and environmental infrastructure needs over a 5–80 year period.
Contact
NationalInfrastructureCommissionforWales@gov.wales
Stuart Ingram 0300 025 5040