Farms have central role to play in reaching targets

IN 2017 the Welsh Government announced a target of meeting 70% of Wales’ electricity demand from Welsh renewable electricity sources by 2030. By 2018, 50% of the electricity consumed in Wales was generated from renewable energy sources which was up from 19% in 2014 and 48% in 2017.

Notably, the introduction of Feed in Tariffs (FITS) in 2010 played a central role in more than doubling renewable energy production in Wales from 2014 to 2017 by offering an incentive for farmers to invest in such production with a much reduced financial risk.

With COP26 dominating the headlines and the focus strongly on renewable energy and reducing emissions, we must repeat our concern that the abolition of FITS in 2019 has led to a significant slowdown in on-farm investment into renewable energy sources. This slow down has weakened the environmental benefits associated with private initiatives and has had a negative impact on the momentum behind the Welsh Government’s 2030 target.

When we talk to our members about renewable energy schemes they always say how disappointed they are with the current situation, especially given the willingness of the industry to play its part in any way it can.

That disappointment was also highlighted in our response to the Agricultural White Paper for Wales consultation, where farmers’ contribution towards renewable energy generation was not mentioned and hardly encouraged.

This comes against the backdrop that increasing renewable energy is one of the ‘National Priorities’ in the Natural Resources Policy (NRP) alongside Wales’ goal to be net zero by 2050.

The Welsh Government must find a way to regain the momentum to reach its 2030 target of 70 percent of Wales’ electricity demand from Welsh renewable electricity sources as a key priority for the Government’s five year term.

Whilst the FUW remains neutral in terms of the divisive issue of large-scale wind farms, we fully support the development of appropriate on-farm renewable energy sources.

The FUW maintains that Welsh farms have a central role to play in reaching Welsh targets provided the correct support is available so that farmers can act with confidence today.

Another solution to fixing the problem is to work with Ofgem and the UK Government to ensure the costs of connection to the National Grid by electricity companies are fair and proportionate. We would urge the Welsh Government to encourage and facilitate the use of wood and other carbon-neutral sources of energy while ensuring food production is not compromised.

In addition, and in order to meet net zero goals, the Welsh Government ought to reintroduce attractive renewable energy production schemes and Feed In Tariffs. These schemes incentivise farmers to invest in schemes and would restore the previous growth in private renewable energy production that we achieved here in Wales.

We have said it many times before – farmers here in Wales are part of the solution to climate change and the FUW is keen to work closely with stakeholders, policy makers and the Government to achieve those targets that aim to reduce and reverse climate change.