Quick action needed to tackle delays halting Welsh wind farms.

Thursday 3 October 2024

The renewable energy industry in Wales is urgently calling on the Welsh Government to tackle the delays in approving three significant onshore wind farm projects, boasting a total capacity of over 200MW.

These three pivotal onshore wind farm ventures promise to be the driving force behind providing sustainable power to approximately 170,000 homes on an annual basis.

RenewableUK Cymru has expressed deep disappointment over the persistent delays in the approval process for these three essential onshore wind projects.

One of the impacted projects is the Garn Fach Wind Farm by EDF Renewables UK, located in Powys. The project has been left in limbo, awaiting a decision for a staggering duration of over two years, far exceeding the stipulated 10-month timeframe within which Developments of National Significance (DNS) in Wales are typically meant to be sanctioned.

Recent statistics indicate that a meagre proportion of fewer than 20% of DNS submissions are handled within the pre-defined timelines, placing Welsh wind projects in a precarious position in terms of securing funding through the UK Government’s clean energy auctions like the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme.

During the most recent CfD round, Welsh projects only managed to secure a paltry 2% of the total UK allocation, painting a grim picture of the challenges they are up against.

Jess Hooper, the Director of RenewableUK Cymru, highlighted, “Delays of this nature convey a negative image, implying that Wales may not be an attractive destination for developmental projects”.

Hooper further iterated, “Without prompt and efficient action, there is a legitimate concern that Wales might squander this golden investment opportunity and risk falling behind in the UK’s crucial race towards achieving the 2030 clean power target.”

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