Wales Need to Harvest Offshore Wind to Meet Renewables Target

Scaling up offshore wind generation could help Wales meet its renewable energy and decarbonisation targets, as well as deliver local economic stimulus, says a new report by the Carbon Trust. The report, Future Potential for Offshore Wind in Wales, delivers a series of recommendations to policymakers to capitalise on the clean growth potential of offshore wind farms.

At the moment, 48% of Welsh energy consumption is supplied by renewable technologies. The country has outlined a 70% renewable energy target by 2030 and a carbon reduction goal of at least 80% by 2050. An additional 2 GW of offshore wind power could be delivered by just 2-3 projects in Wales, putting the country on the right tracks to reach their climate protection goals.

Wales is a strategically important net exporter of power to the UK grid, generating more than double the electricity it consumes. There has been nearly no activity concerning the offshore wind sector in recent years, but Wales does have some interesting locations: Relatively shallow waters off North Wales, in particular, are expected to be attractive for near-term development, while deeper waters off Pembrokeshire hold considerable long-term potential for floating offshore wind technology. As such, the report outlines a series of key recommendations to government to improve the attractiveness of projects in Wales for inward investment.

The Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said, “This report by the Carbon Trust provides us with a greater understanding of opportunities in Wales for the sustainable development of offshore wind for the future.  We realise the potential of offshore wind to help Wales meet its decarbonisation targets and renewable energy targets. We will now consider the recommendations from the report and continue our engagement with the Crown Estate on the potential of new leasing in Wales.”

The full report can be accessed here.