Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Rejected
Paragraph: 117
We recommend that the Government engage directly with community energy projects in Wales to understand...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government engage directly with community energy projects in Wales to understand the difficulties they face connecting to the grid. The UK Government should lead a working group made up of the Welsh Government, grid infrastructure owners, energy companies and communities to explore how access to the grid for community energy projects can be improved in Wales.
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Welsh Government has responsibility for renewable energy projects under 350 MW and community energy schemes, and that the Community Energy Contact Group (CECG) has been re-established with a representative from Community Energy Wales. They decline to establish a separate working group at this time.
Paragraph Reference:
117
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Welsh Government has responsibility for renewable energy projects under 350 MW in Wales, recognising that community energy projects will fall below this threshold. The Welsh Government also has responsibility for all onshore wind. Community energy schemes within Wales have access to support from the Welsh Government. In addition to this, as promised in the Net Zero Strategy, the Community Energy Contact Group (CECG) has been re-established to strengthen Government’s engagement with the sector. A representative from Community Energy Wales attends the meetings as an observer and contributes to relevant issues. The CECG works with BEIS to set the agenda for the meetings and can discuss grid connection issues, should they choose to. Given we already have an established mechanism to engage with the community energy sector, we will not be establishing a working group to discuss access to the grid for community energy projects, at this time.