Written Statement: Announcement of Deep Dive Into Renewable Energy

As a Senedd we have a shared commitment to decarbonisation and have set net-zero targets demonstrating how Wales can lead the way on the number one global challenge facing us. Our ambitions must be driven by scaling up of renewable energy generation and I am committed to establishing Wales as a leader in this area.

To push towards achieving our goals I am pleased to announce that today I have begun a deep dive into renewable energy. The deep dive will involve a small core group of experts from both within the sector and outside to provide input and challenge. The purpose of the exercise is to identify the opportunities we have in Wales to significantly scale up renewable generation, consider the barriers and the steps required to overcome them. We will look at short-, medium- and long-term steps, and in doing so we will have a focus on retaining wealth and ownership in Wales. The Terms of Reference for this group have been agreed today and can be read in Annex A.

It is anticipated that the early outcomes of the discussions will be reported back to the Senedd prior to the Christmas break in an Oral Statement. It is my intention that this statement will be supported by an action plan setting out how we can best overcome the issues identified.

Renewable Energy Deep Dive – Terms of Reference

Purpose

The purpose of the exercise is to identify barriers to significantly scaling up renewable energy in Wales and identifying steps to overcome the barriers. We will look at short, medium and long term steps, and in doing so we will have a particular focus on retaining wealth and ownership in Wales.

The deep dive will:

• Consider the scale of investment in renewable energy generation needed to meet Wales’ statutory duties.
• Identify the scope for community ownership within private sector renewable generation projects and the wider role for communities to work in partnership with developers in Wales.
• Consider how to increase the benefit to Wales from commercially owned developments, where ownership is not being pursued.
• Consider the scale of opportunity for public and community led renewable energy generation in Wales.
• Consider how to support the growth/development of public and community owned renewable energy generation in Wales
• Challenge the status quo for delivery in Wales and set out priority actions to support greater renewable energy generation by public bodies and community groups in Wales.

Membership of the group

The deep dive will involve a small core group of critical thinkers led by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, from both within the sector and outside to provide input and challenge. Meetings will be chaired by the Deputy Minister, with secretariat provided by Welsh Government. Members have been chosen on the basis of their individual expertise and experience; as such attendance is not to be delegated without agreement of the Deputy Minister.

The group will be supported by focussed group discussions where necessary covering specific topics where the group feel additional expertise and opinion would add value. The scope of these focussed group discussions will be shaped by the initial meetings of the deep dive group.

Timing

The exercise will begin in October with meetings taking place at regular intervals (no more than two per week) before Senedd Christmas recess. The outcomes of the review will be announced in a Ministerial Statement ahead of Christmas recess.

The group may meet occasionally following this statement if actions are identified which require longer-term work.

Communications

Discussions in the group will take place on a Chatham House basis and there will be no communications about the final outcome of discussions unless first agreed with Welsh Government.

Welsh Government will publish these Terms of Reference and circulate notes of meetings to the group.