Generating a future that is renewable

WE are fortunate in Wales to have 1,000 miles of coastline and five million acres of land – the perfect conditions to develop renewable energy. It’s time we became a world leader in the field. Ynni Cymru is a way of achieving that – a Welsh energy company which could transform Wales’ energy industry.

A number of actions would fall under Ynni Cymru’s remit, including reducing the cost per unit of energy to homes and businesses in Wales, reducing energy consumption and helping consumers make informed decisions based on smart meter technology.

My colleague Simon Thomas AM this week proposed the establishment of Ynni Cymru. A not-forprofit company, it would be tasked with developing a national network of municipally owned regional or local energy companies to match generation and demand for electricity at the district level. We believe this would enable us to produce all the energy we consume in Wales from renewables by 2035.

We produce more electricity than we consume so we export electricity. Yet today Wales produces less renewable energy than any other part of the UK. Energy poverty is worse in Wales than in any other part of the UK, which causes major health and financial issues for many people during the winter. This can and must change.

Figures from 2015 show Wales’ renewable electricity generation was only 20% of its overall electricity generation. Compare this with Sweden, which produces 53.9% of its electricity from renewables. There are success stories in Wales. We can boast innovative community energy schemes such as Ynni Ogwen or Awel Aman Tawe. We know the potential of the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon.

There is another reason why this proposal is so important. The UK’s decision to leave the EU will mean we will need to produce much more energy in Wales. The UK relies on energy produced by other EU countries, for example sourcing 5% of energy from France and 2.5% from the Netherlands. With the UK Government taking us out of the Single Market and Customs Union, it is unlikely the UK’s electricity interconnection with other EU countries will be able to continue as it is.

I have long been involved in environmental campaigns. In the European Parliament I called for more and faster action on climate change and for stronger renewable energy targets. This was not only because renewable energy is necessary to mitigate the affects of climate change, but also because it can help Wales reduce energy prices, currently among the highest in Europe.

There has never been a better time for Wales to develop its own energy network. Ynni Cymru shows us the way to do that.