Wind power has the potential to generate 9GW of energy for Wales over the next decade.
That’s according to a new report by RenewableUK Cymru which highlights the urgent need for an ambitious delivery plan to secure Wales’ renewable energy future.
The Welsh Government has set a target for all electricity demand in Wales to be met from renewable sources by 2035.
The majority of this energy is expected to come from onshore and offshore wind, with contributions from solar, tidal, hydro and other sources.
RenewableUK’s data reveals that although many renewable energy projects are in the pipeline, over 75% of this capacity remains unbuilt.
More than half of these projects are still in the early stages of development and haven’t entered the planning system.
This means that Wales must significantly increase its deployment over the next decade, from the current 2GW of operational capacity to the planned 9GW capacity by 2035.
The Welsh Government has control over planning and consenting for onshore wind projects and offshore wind projects up to 350MW in Wales.
The introduction of the Infrastructure Bill in 2025 aims to simplify and consolidate these processes.
Given the Welsh Government’s renewable energy targets, RenewableUK Cymru is calling for a clear roadmap to success, with regular progress checks and collaborative actions between the government and industry to address planning and grid constraints.
Delivery timescales for onshore wind projects, in particular, have been slow to date, and inadequate grid infrastructure is impeding the growth of the renewable energy sector in Wales, according to the report.
