Select Committee · Welsh Affairs Committee

Renewable energy in Wales

Status: Closed Opened: 23 Nov 2020 Closed: 15 Nov 2021 12 recommendations 8 conclusions 1 report

We will look at how the UK Government, in cooperation with Welsh Ministers, can best support the development of renewable energy in Wales. This will include the potential significance of COP26 for Wales. Read the inquiry launch and terms of reference

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Renewable energy in Wales HC 439 29 Jul 2021 20 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
5 Recommendation Second Report - Renewable energy in Wal… Not Addressed

The UK Government must address the funding gap for emerging marine technologies or risk negatively...

The UK Government must address the funding gap for emerging marine technologies or risk negatively impacting their development. As a first step, Ministers from Her Majesty’s Treasury, in cooperation and coordination with Welsh Government Ministers, should arrange to meet with representatives from the marine energy sector as a matter of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government did not address the specific recommendation for Ministers to meet with marine energy sector representatives to investigate Innovation Power Purchase Agreements. The response describes ongoing engagement by officials and existing funding mechanisms.
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Wales Office
6 Recommendation Second Report - Renewable energy in Wal… Not Addressed

The Feed-in Tariffs scheme had been hugely successful in attracting investment in small-scale renewable energy...

The Feed-in Tariffs scheme had been hugely successful in attracting investment in small-scale renewable energy generation. We are concerned, however, that its Renewable energy in Wales 27 replacement scheme the Smart Export Guarantee has been widely criticised by small-scale renewable developers as being too limited in scope and for its … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government only provides a definition of the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). It does not address the committee's concerns about the SEG's limitations, smart meter rollout issues in rural areas, or the recommendation to work with the Welsh Government to resolve these problems.
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Wales Office
7 Recommendation Second Report - Renewable energy in Wal… Not Addressed

This is a critical moment for the climate agenda.

This is a critical moment for the climate agenda. If the UK Government is to achieve its ambitious net-zero targets, it needs to have a subsidy programme that succeeds in attracting private sector and community investment in small-scale renewable energy generation. The UK Government should therefore, as a matter of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government only provides a definition of the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). It does not commit to exploring the re-introduction of generation or fixed tariffs to the SEG, nor does it agree to report back within three months on a review of these proposals.
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Wales Office
11 Recommendation Second Report - Renewable energy in Wal… Not Addressed

While Wales has the potential to benefit from the Ten Point Plan, it will not...

While Wales has the potential to benefit from the Ten Point Plan, it will not do so automatically or by right. Rather, it will require a clear vision, and a specific plan, for job creation from the UK Government. Using the Ten Point Plan as a starting point, 28 Renewable … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government details various existing funding commitments and projects for net zero in Wales, including specific amounts for initiatives like the Active Building Centre. However, it does not commit to developing a new Wales-specific plan with a detailed route-map, job numbers, or allocating parliamentary time …
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Wales Office

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
29 Apr 2021 David T C Davies · Wales Office, Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy View ↗
15 Apr 2021 Juliet Davenport · Good Energy, Maf Smith · Lumen Energy and Environment, Michelle Davies · Eversheds Sutherland View ↗
18 Mar 2021 Frank Elsworth · Vattenfall, Gary Newman · Wood Knowledge Wales, Huub den Rooijen · The Crown Estate, Matthieu Hue · EDF Renewables, Robert Proctor · Community Energy Wales, Simon Hamlyn · British Hydropower Association View ↗
4 Mar 2021 Christoph Harwood · Simply Blue Energy, Jess Hooper · Marine Energy Wales, Paul Hewett · Belltown Power, Tom Glover · RWE Generation View ↗
28 Jan 2021 Hywel Lloyd · Institute of Welsh Affairs, Professor Nick Jenkins · Cardiff University, Rhys Wyn Jones · RenewableUK View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Christoph Harwood · Director of Policy and Strategy Simply Blue Energy 1
David T C Davies · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Wales Office 1
Frank Elsworth · Head of Onshore Business Development Vattenfall 1
Gary Newman · Chief Executive Wood Knowledge Wales 1
Huub den Rooijen · Managing Director, Marine The Crown Estate 1
Hywel Lloyd · Chair of Re-energising Wales project advisory boa… Institute of Welsh Affairs 1
Jess Hooper · Programme Manager Marine Energy Wales 1
Juliet Davenport · Founder and CEO Good Energy 1
Maf Smith · Director Lumen Energy and Environment 1
Matthieu Hue · Chief Executive Officer EDF Renewables 1
Michelle Davies · International Head of Clean Energy and Sustainabi… Eversheds Sutherland 1
Paul Hewett · CEO Belltown Power 1
Professor Nick Jenkins · Leader of the Centre for Integrated Energy Genera… Cardiff University 1
Rhys Wyn Jones · Head of RenewableUK Cymru RenewableUK 1
Robert Proctor · Business Development Manager Community Energy Wales 1
Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan · Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Cha… Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1
Simon Hamlyn · CEO British Hydropower Association 1
Tom Glover · UK Country Chair RWE Generation 1