This document summarizes energy policy in Wales, including goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase renewable energy production. Key policies outlined are the Climate Change Act of 2008, the Renewable Energy Strategy of 2009, and the Energy Wales plan of 2012. The document also discusses the Welsh government's role in supporting renewable energy given that energy policy is reserved to the UK government. It notes targets to produce 4TWh of renewable electricity by 2010 and 7TWh by 2020 through technologies like wind, hydro, and solar.

1. ENERGY POLICY IN WALES
Caroline McGurgan
Project Manager
Eco2
April 2013

2. Climate Change Act 2008
 The Climate Change
Act 2008 obliges the
UK to reduce its
greenhouse gas
emissions by:
 at least 34% by 2020
and
 by at least 80% by
2050,
compared with 1990
levels.

3. Renewable Energy Strategy 2009
 15% of all energy
consumed in UK to
come from renewable
sources by 2020

4. Coalition Position
 National Renewable Energy Action Plan July 2010
 Renewables Roadmap July 2011
 Electricity Market Reform (EMR) White Paper July 2011
 Energy Bill - expected to achieve Royal Assent in 2013.
 CfD
 Capacity Market

5. Position in Wales
“.. whilst energy policy is not a
devolved matter, a large number
of key enabling policies are –
including economic
development, housing, planning,
environmental regulation,
pollution and transport.
There is therefore much that we
can do to take control of the
opportunities associated with the
transition to a low carbon
economy.”
Energy Wales: a Low Carbon Transition

6. Supporting Policy
 Wales: Changing Climate, Challenging Choices
 A Sustainable Wales – Learning to Live Differently
 Final Report on Renewable Energy
 4TWh per year by 2010
 Concluding:
"The Welsh Assembly should seek to promote a vision for
renewable energy in Wales that emphasises safe, clean and secure
energy supplies and contributes positively to reducing global
warming. It should emphasise that this will provide opportunities for
industrial and rural development, long-term employment and
increased prosperity. Most of all it should promote this vision by
example and by vigorously pursuing well thought out policies."

7. Technical Advice Note 8 (July 2005)
Energy policy is a
reserved function that is
not devolved to the
Assembly Government.
However, all decision
relating to renewable
energy in Wales must take
account of the Assembly
Government's policy.
TAN 8

8. Main Aims
 Delivering targets through the planning system
 Provides technical advice to supplement PPW
 Sets a target of 4TWh of electricity per annum to be produced
from renewable energy by 2010 and 7TWh by 2020
 Identifies onshore wind as offering the greatest potential for
increasing the generation of electricity from renewable
energy.
 Concludes 800MW of additional installed capacity required
from onshore wind and a further 200MW from off-shore and
other renewable technologies

9. Support for technologies
 Offshore Wind
 The consent processes lie outside the land use planning system.
However, local planning authorities are consultees in the offshore
decision-making process and wherever practicable proposals for
offshore wind developments should be supported.
 Biogas
 Criteria based policies should be supportive subject to
appropriate siting, adequate vehicular access etc.
 CHP
 Local planning authorities should take an active role in facilitating
CHP systems through development plan & development brief
processes.

10.  Hydro
 Though generally supported, there could be occasions where
some hydro schemes are unacceptable because of potential
ecological damage. All of the parties involved should work
constructively to find acceptable solutions.
 Landfill Gas
 These opportunities should be encouraged, will be usually site
specific and can be covered by criteria based local policy.
 Solar Thermal and PV
 Other than in circumstances where visual impact is critically
damaging to a listed building, ancient monument or a
conservation area vista, proposals for appropriately designed
solar thermal and PV systems should be supported.

11. Energy Wales:
A Low Carbon Transition 2012
Main Aims:
 Improving the planning and consenting system for energy
development by simplifying the process
 Ensuring the necessary infrastructure is strategically planned and
delivered.
 Provide targeted support to Welsh businesses, particularly SMEs, to
enable them to compete for and take part in the delivery of
renewable energy
 Intervention in supply-chain development, business support, skills
and training, procurement, innovation, research and deployment.
 Ensuring communities benefit from development

12. Realising the Ambition
Actions
 Natural Resources Wales - April 2013
 Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan
 Coordinating and prioritising delivery through a cross-
government Energy Programme.

13. Where next?
 Silk Commission
 Welsh Government has appealed to increase the
consenting threshold from 50MW to 100MW
 Submission from Westminster :
"We are at a crucial time in terms of the energy infrastructure
of this country... The most important thing of all is that there
should be a consistent predictable and streamlined method of
consenting energy. This is the message that we have taken
from the industry itself.“
The Commission will report findings in early 2014