Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Paragraph: 62
Interconnectors have been proven to provide strong benefits for decarbonisation, because of this the role...
Conclusion
Interconnectors have been proven to provide strong benefits for decarbonisation, because of this the role of interconnectors is expected to greatly increase in the decades leading to net zero. As an interconnector in Wales would allow excess energy, which is likely to be created due to the abundance of wind energy in the country, to be exported rather than curtailed, there are clear opportunities for Wales to benefit. This is particularly significant for Welsh waters in light of the EU’s requirement for 300GW of offshore wind by 2050.
Paragraph Reference:
62
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
In last year’s Energy White Paper, the UK government included an ambition to realise at least 18 gigawatts of electricity interconnection by 2030. The UK is supportive of electricity interconnection as a core part of our energy strategy due to its benefits in helping to provide an electricity supply that contributes towards our Net Zero decarbonisation goal in a low cost and secure way. We currently have 6 gigawatts in operation, with 1 gigawatt connecting to the island of Ireland, and another 500 megawatts in development. The Offshore Transmission Network Review is considering how to deliver the transmission connections for the generation needed to meet our considerable offshore wind ambitions (40 gigawatts by 2030) in the most appropriate way. This includes as a key workstream how to facilitate Multi-Purpose Interconnectors, which combine interconnection and direct connections to offshore wind farms. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for cooperation between the UK and EU on the development of renewable energy resources in the North Seas, building on the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC). The UK was an active member of NSEC before the UK left the EU and we hope to resume cooperation with NSEC partners soon. The UK has the largest potential offshore wind capacity in the world, with key developments off the west coast, and we are confident that this regional cooperation initiative can make a huge contribution to decarbonising, diversifying and increasing the security of the European energy system whilst accelerating the transformation of European industries, including our own. The UK firmly believes that regional cooperation and greater integration of energy systems are key to achieving these objectives and would be very interested to hear more about opportunities in the Celtic Sea.