Renewable energy deep dive biannual recommendations update 1 - Strategy

Recommendation

Our Vision is for Wales to generate renewable energy to at least fully meet our energy needs and utilise surplus generation to tackle the nature and climate emergencies. We will accelerate actions to reduce energy demand and maximise local ownership retaining economic and social benefits in Wales.

Key highlights / milestones

This recommendation sets out the vision for renewable energy in Wales. The recommendations that follow will help deliver on the ambition to achieve this vision.

Through Net Zero Wales we committed to consulting on our renewable energy targets. The vision from this recommendation provides the context and the ambition for those targets.

Key highlights include:

• Working with an independent contractor to gather an evidence base to provide the baseline for how Wales can move to achieve the vision;
• Taking into account the evidence base, launching a formal consultation before the end of 2022. 

Next steps towards completion

This recommendation is complete.

Given the implications our vision has for our consultation on Wales’ renewable energy targets, the forthcoming actions linked to this recommendation are:

• Publishing a consultation on Wales’ renewable energy targets before the end of 2022;
• Publishing our updated renewable energy targets by Summer 2023.

Recommendation    

We will scale up local energy plans to create a national energy plan by 2024, mapping out future energy demand and supply for all parts of Wales to identify gaps to enable us to plan for a system that is flexible and smart - matching local renewable energy generation with energy demand.

Key highlights / milestones    

This recommendation is making steady progress. Building on the completion of four Regional Energy Strategies, and the successful delivery of two pilots of Local Area Energy Plans (LAEP) in Newport and Conwy, support is being provided on a regional basis.

Key highlights since the deep dive include:

• Appointing the Energy System Catapult (ESC) as our technical advisor to support the development of LAEPs across all Local Authorities in Wales by 2024;
• ESC working with the mid Wales region (Powys and Ceredigion) to develop their energy plans;
• Working with businesses who might deliver the energy plans for the three other regions (North Wales, South West Wales and Cardiff Capital Region) to promote the upcoming opportunity; 
• Holding early engagement sessions with all regions and Local Authorities and agreed support packages to help deliver LAEPs with an agreed methodology;
• Establishing a National Advisory Group for the programme which will help drive our commitment for a combined holistic National Energy Plan by 2024.

Next steps towards completion

This recommendation is scheduled to be completed by 2024, once all LAEPs have been produced together with a combined National Energy Plan.

Our next steps over the coming 6 months include:

• Appointing suppliers to work with Cardiff Capital Region, Ambition North Wales and South-West Wales to develop LAEPs for their local authorities;
• Setting-up a local authority forum for collaboration and knowledge. The first forum took place on 13 September;
• Further meetings of the National Advisory Group;
• Engaging with key stakeholders to inform development of the energy plans.

Recommendation    

Our Net Zero Wales public engagement and behaviour change plans will help citizens to take action to reduce demand, improve energy efficiency and use energy in a way which supports our vision.

Key highlights / milestones    

This recommendation is progressing well as we seek to engage with the public to embrace the ambition of Net Zero Wales and drive behaviour change to effectively respond to climate change.

Key highlights since the deep dive include:

• Updating and republishing Working Together to Reach Net Zero in April 2022, with latest public pledges, case studies, inputs from our youth and further impact of COP26 and COP Cymru events;
• Publishing our Stakeholder Engagement Plan in June 2022, which sets out how we intend to grow momentum, stimulate ideas and strengthen the coalition of Team Wales on matters of climate change;
• Holding early engagement events with key stakeholders as well as internal cross-Government officials to shape our Behaviour Change Strategy.

Next steps towards completion

The majority of the work to implement this recommendation is expected to be completed within the next 6 months, although engaging with the public to improve energy efficiency, alongside the wider drive towards Net Zero, will be an ongoing Team Wales effort.

Our next steps over the next 6 months include:

• Publishing a draft Behaviour Change Strategy (currently expected late September 2022);
• Completing an open consultation of our draft Behaviour Change Strategy;
• Holding at least one blended engagement event to build on the success of Wales Climate Week 2020 and COP Cymru 2021;
• Publishing a final version of our Behaviour Change Strategy early in 2023;
• Revamping our web content and other tools to improve communication to go live in 2023.

Recommendation    

We want to see an easy to access advice service set up to help people improve the energy efficiency and smart performance of their homes and businesses as well as a ready supply of trusted suppliers and installers of low carbon heating systems in Wales. We will scope additional actions as we develop our future Warm Homes Programme and Heat Strategy.

Key highlights / milestones  

An easy to access advice service is linked to both the Welsh Government’s emerging Heat Strategy and review of the Warm Homes Programme alongside the public engagement campaign on Net Zero Wales (see recommendation 3). 

Key highlights since the deep dive include:

• Completing, in April 22, a public consultation on the future of the next iteration of the Warm Homes Programme;
• Ongoing development of a business case to inform options, including advice services, for the next iteration of the Warm Homes Programme (WHP); 
• Appointing Carbon Savings Trust and Regen as independent expert advisors to support the development of our Heat Strategy;
• Ongoing provision of an advice service as part of the Nest demand led fuel poverty scheme led by British Gas/EST which typically provides tailored advice and refers to third party services to over 15,000 households per year. 

Next steps towards completion

Our ongoing research will continue to inform the implementation of this recommendation. Next steps over the coming 6 months include:

• Using the Lessons Learned and consultation responses to inform a policy direction for the new WHP by autumn 2022;
• Rolling out the new WHP, expected to be from 2023, which will be supported by Building Research Establishment (BRE);
• Conducting stakeholder engagement as we develop our Heat Strategy, which is due for publication at the end of 2023.