Publicly-owned renewable energy developer for Wales launched
A publicly-owned renewable energy developer for Wales, Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, has been launched today.
The company has been established to accelerate the development of renewable energy projects, particularly onshore wind, on the wider Welsh public estate and maximise their value for the people of Wales.
The Trydan Gwyrdd team, based in Merthyr Tydfil, will be working alongside Natural Resources Wales to develop wind farms on the woodland estate. They will begin engaging with communities near initial sites at the earliest opportunity.
Launch
At the launch in Bryncynon, Jeremy Miles set out the Welsh Government’s long-term plans for a greener, more sustainable energy supply and decarbonisation and announced the publication of a Heat Strategy.
Jeremy Miles, Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Energy and the Welsh Language, who officially launched the project today, said: “There is no question that clean energy is central to a more prosperous Wales and a better future for our communities. I hope today’s announcements show how we will make the energy transition benefit Wales, both now and in the future.
“We are already making progress in offshore wind and today marks an important step in the right direction for onshore, and in particular large scale, Welsh owned onshore projects. There are enormous opportunities here.
“Owning our own renewables company on behalf of Wales will allow us not only to develop renewables in ways that fit with the natural environment but most importantly to provide us, and the people of Wales, with the ability to own the returns on what will be a significant investment.
“We have a long road ahead and we will not start generating income for Wales for some years – but the work to better secure our energy future starts today.”
Energy superpower
UK Government Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The people of Wales will benefit hugely from the sustainable, homegrown clean power from Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru.
“I look forward to working closely with the Welsh Government as we make Britain a clean energy superpower, including setting out the first steps of Great British Energy, boosting our energy independence and bring down bills for good.”
Richard Evans, Chief Executive Officer of Trydan, said: “In Wales, we have a history of social collaboration and engagement, which Trydan will continue. for people to support more and faster deployment, the renewable sector will need to visibly embed benefits into local communities, invest more in Welsh and UK supply chains, and help residents and businesses worried about energy bills.
“Today we launch our engagement seeking to bring Welsh citizens with us on this exciting journey. Next, we’ll be reaching out to local communities to discuss very early plans associated with priority projects on the Welsh woodland estate.
“There are great professionals within the industry in Wales – I’m happy to have recruited several to work alongside me in Trydan – and we look forward to working with all key players, including communities, on strategic goals and on shaping our projects from their inception.”
Net Zero
During the launch event at the Feel Good Factory in Bryncynon this morning, the Welsh Government also published its cross-Government Heat Strategy – setting out a roadmap for decarbonising the heating of homes, commercial properties and industry as part of its Net Zero commitments.
With heating accounting for 50% of energy use in Wales, 75% of which is generated using fossil fuels, the strategy looks across homes, businesses, industry and the public sector at what each area will need to put in place to achieve a low carbon energy system.
One example being considered is whether warm water in old mine workings can be used to heat homes in former mining communities.
This work is at a very early stage but the Coal Authority have produced detailed maps highlighting where there is potential accessible minewater and the Welsh Government will support them and identified local authorities in maximising the unintended opportunities from Wales’ coaling heritage to support the delivery of a net zero society.
More information is available at Trydan Gwyrdd’s website.
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Large swathes of Wales are already facing the industrialisation of its rural heartlands by developments of a size and scale untested and unprecedented onland, placing 250m high turbines within 700m of homes scarring landscapes, well-being and communities, and all to benefit multinational venture capitalists. Politicians and journalists do not appear to have the courage of their convictions to oppose this and it is once again left to the ‘skint little people’ (Alan Bates Post Office scandal) to do what is right, make a stand and object, appreciating that value (social, well-being and landscape) cannot be quantified in the form of… Read more »
Hurry up but make sure it is done correctly.
Exactly how will the people of Wales benefit from this, is there to be lower power costs, lower council tax, or will all the profits be used for the NHS, policing, fixing potholes, and projects within government. will taxes be paid to westminster? or is this to be sold off in 20 to 30 years when a quick buck is needed. This is a very good idea make it pay for Wales support Wales and make it clear how the people of Wales will benefit from this.
The mine water project has been raised in past in 2001, I came across Cardiff University Seren project when I was looking for a sustainable energy heating source for a new School which was adjacent to capped mine shaft. Although there was interest from Carbon Trust in Wales at time, the WG and the LA were less interested. There was a care home and a number of LA older persons bungalows in the vicinity that could be added to heat load. It was not until I met with Caerau project team some years later in Bridgend council offices there was… Read more »
I understand Abernant mine was the deepest in the south Wales coal field, but the mine shaft was filled and capped after decommissioning. Being the deepest, perhaps it could have become a particularly efficient water to water heat pump, serving the SME’s now on site.
The Seren project identified a number of mines and mine water outfalls where the temperature of water was in the scope of utilising heat pumps for heating.
There was an update in last decade.
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/510965/1/FarrTucker%20SEREN%20for%20NORA.pdf
Diolch Howie, I’ll take a close look at this later, and save. I gather from first reading that existing pumped water can be used to good effect, without need for closed loops reaching deep underground, as I thought.
The home for Labour devotees that Bute energy will be involved in this……
“”UK Government Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The people of Wales will benefit hugely from the sustainable, homegrown clean power from Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru.””
I suspect that could only be true if Wales develops a stand alone, Wales centric grid and of course generation capacity to match, otherwise, Wales will stay subject to the price vagaries of the European market that the UK has wedded itself to via the interconnectors.
They will say anything to placate the public. They all talk our the back of their heads and are a bunch of lying idiots
The real issue here is not lower bills, which is like a Brexit soundbite promise of more trade, but that people in Wales don’t want nature ruined with extra roads, clearing of trees, massive volumes of concrete and windturbines the size of the London Shard near their properties. What about the destruction of wildlife habitat, the decimation of tourism, the lowering of property values and possible health risks of windturbines and pylons being close to where adults and children live? It’s all about profit. Net zero could be reached for Wales with offshore windfarms, hydro projects and small-scale community renewable… Read more »
At last, a company which is Welsh instead of foreign owned. Keep the money in Cymru instead of outsiders taking all the cream as usual.
Where is the money coming from? Are they going to borrow it at some ludicrous interest rate?
Apart from a small discount given to people local to the wind farm bills will not change, all electricity is sold to the consumer at a set price
We currently use national pricing in Great Britain. This means that the GB market consists of one zone.
How many windmills will senedd members see from their own homes? I’m guessing none.
About one or two years ago. The Welsh Government were planning to start-up their own in-house energy generating company. Is this it ? If not, who is behind this new company ? Another Bute Energy shell company ? If this company goes ahead with wind and solar farms, what’s in it for Wales. The high value turbines will be made in China, Scandinavia or Spain. Welsh workers just fix steel bars, tip stone foundations, and spread concrete. That’s after they’ve probably chopped down masses of trees. They chopped down 750,000 trees for the Pen Y Cymoedd wind farm in RCT,… Read more »