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Welsh Political Parties neglect clean energy

Call for the economic value of the renewable energy sector to be recognised

Thursday 26 April 2007

The political establishment in Wales has been accused of neglecting and undervaluing a major energy sector that invests millions of pounds each year to the Welsh economy. BWEA, representing wind, wave and tidal energy technologies, claims that Welsh political parties are failing to give due recognition to the economic contribution of the renewable energy sector worth millions of pounds each year in managing and developing projects in Wales.

Matt Partridge, Chair of the BWEA Wales Steering Group commented:

“The political parties all seek the creation of a vibrant, green, high-growth, and high-tech economy for Wales. The wind energy industry ticks all of these boxes yet all the political parties are guilty of both under-valuing its contribution and failing to adequately support the industry to allow even greater benefits for Wales.

“Supporting green renewable energy industries in principle but ignoring the most developed and viable of these technologies - wind - is contradictory and not in Wales’ best economic and environmental interests.”

“I call on all the politicians hoping to secure a seat in the Assembly to recognise the current and continuing importance of the wind energy sector to the Welsh economy and announce their unequivocal support to the sector during the current election campaign.”

Mr Partridge also believes that “Future investment by the renewable energy sector in Wales will be at risk if leadership and confidence is not shown by political leaders.”

Llywelyn Rhys, Wales Officer for the BWEA said:

“A straw poll amongst BWEA’s Wales members demonstrated that many millions of pounds are being spent by the Welsh wind energy sector each year, with much of this money going to Welsh landowners, community groups, consultants and equipment suppliers.  The financial benefits arise in addition to the environmental benefits from generating clean, carbon-free electricity that contributes to stated Welsh Assembly Government targets.”

In the light of its initial findings, BWEA has decided to undertake a survey of the sector to gain a better understanding of the true value of the industry and the role it plays in creating a strong vibrant Welsh economy. The findings of the report will be published at the inaugural BWEA Wales Conference due to be held in Cardiff on 3rd July.

 

Notes to editors

BWEA’s inaugural dedicated Welsh conference will be held at the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff on Tuesday 3rd July. See www.bwea.com/wales/conference.html

In July 2005, the Welsh Assembly put in place a target of 4 terawatt hours (TWh) of renewable generation by 2010, rising to 7 TWh by 2020. TAN8 specifies an additional 800 MW of onshore wind and 200 MW of offshore wind in Wales by 2010, as part of the 4 TWh target.

In the 20 months since TAN8 was published, 1,606 MW of onshore wind energy projects have been approved in the UK: Wales’s share of this thriving new industry is less than 3%.

Only 4 projects totalling 68.55 MW have been commissioned since July 2005, meaning that Wales is now 74% behind schedule on meeting its own targets by 2010.

See www.bwea.com/wales for the latest TAN8 progress chart and more details of BWEA’s work in Wales.