The electricity generation in Wales from renewables is growing. According to the report from the Welsh government, electricity consumption dropped by 16% between 2005 and 2019. On the other hand, renewables grew by 500% in the same period.
The goal of the Welsh government by 2030 is to achieve 1 GW of locally owned renewable projects. Such a goal supports sustainable communities but also helps the adoption of renewables across the region. The government succeeded in promoting renewables at the local level, where small wind turbines have contributed significantly.
Moreover, large-scale onshore and offshore wind contributed to Wales’ renewable electricity generation growing by 70%. This expansion means the wind is driving the growth of renewables in Wales.
Renewable Energy in Wales
Hydropower, wind, and solar PV lead renewable energy installations in Wales. Prospects also include wave and tidal energy sources.
The mix of different sources of electricity for Wales shows the abundance of its natural resources that it can harness. The means to deliver this electricity to customers have also been in place.
In 2019, renewable energy sources contributed 51% to electricity consumption in Wales, which is 27% of all electricity generation.
The largest renewable energy project in Wales, Dinorwig Power Station, is a pumped storage hydroelectric scheme. Wind power, however, is not to be left behind. 39% of the renewable electricity generation in Wales is from onshore wind power.
The government closed the last coal-fired power station in Wales, Aberthaw Power Station, in March 2020. Coal is no longer part of the future energy mix of Wales.
There are two areas in Wales whose renewable sector produce equivalent to 100% of what it consumes–Ceredigion (110%) and Denbighshire (100%).
Potential of Wind Energy in Wales
Wind farm development in Wales is growing steadily in both onshore and offshore wind. Currently, the capacity of onshore wind projects in Wales is higher than that of offshore wind farms.
Onshore wind projects have a capacity of 1.2 GW, while offshore wind delivers 726 MW. However, these could change in the coming years.
Through the Crown Estate, Wales can boost its wind energy capacity significantly. The Crown Estate commission released a 2021 study that reveals its plan to unlock 4 GW of floating wind capacity from the Celtic Sea by 2035.
Crown Estate announced the offshore floating wind plan in March 2021, reflecting its engagement with key stakeholders and understanding of the market. The Crown Estate is considering offshore wind projects at the Celtic Sea that are up to 1 GW in capacity.
According to Marine Energy Wales, developers invested £152.4 million in the marine renewable energy sector. Aside from tidal and wave technologies, some of this investment went to offshore wind.
Offshore Wind in Wales
Wales has 215 offshore wind turbines operating in three offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea at Liverpool Bay.
The three offshore wind farms in Wales–Gwynt Y Mor, Rhyl Flats, and North Hoyle have 726 MW.
New energy projects in Wales are exploring the potential for floating wind farms to expand their current capacity. Blue Gem Wind, a partnership between Simply Blue Energy and TotalEnergies, expands the offshore wind sector in Wales by building a commercial-scale floating wind farm.
The first project of Blue Gem Wind is the Erebus Wind Farm, a 100-MW floating offshore wind farm in the Celtic Sea that will go online in 2027. After commissioning, Erebus will be the largest floating offshore wind farm in Europe.
Local Ownership of Renewable Energy Capacity
One of the focal points of Wales’ renewable energy goals is the local ownership of renewable projects. Locally owned projects belong to local businesses, households, communities, local authorities, charities, housing associations, faith-based organizations, public sector bodies, education establishments, and Welsh farms and estates.
These projects include locally owned renewable heat (276 MW) and renewable electricity (576 MW). The Welsh government aims for 1 GW of these locally owned renewable energy projects in 2030.
Wind turbines are part of renewables at the local level because wind turbines can get built on top of the building or dwellinghouse. There are currently 187 MW of locally owned wind turbines in Wales, with communities owning 10 MW of those turbines.
Welsh people are also allowed to install up to one mounted turbine (a standalone turbine erected on the property) without planning permission, provided owners achieve all regulation criteria.
National Grid
Wales is undergoing continuous improvement in its National Grid.
The Welsh government is improving the National Grid to allow battery storage projects greater than 1 MW by 2026. To date, South Wales is the bottleneck that prevents more than 1 MW battery storage projects from getting connected.
Battery storage projects are opportunities that quicken the transition to renewables. When there is peak demand, the batteries will generate more power. Battery Storage also improves response times. These projects can co-locate alongside renewable energy generation.
Where are the wind farms in Wales?
The largest onshore wind farm in Wales is Pen y Cymoedd (translates to “Head of the Valleys”), with a 226-MW capacity. The farm is in South Wales between Neath and Aberdare.
Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm and Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm are some of the other notable wind farms.
Natural Resources Wales manages the Clocaenog Wind Farm. Clocaenog has 27 wind turbines installed at three sites in the forest. The wind farm is 350 meters above sea level in a highland region between Denbighshire and East Conwy.
Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm is another wind farm site located at Brechfa Forest in Wales. Brechfa Forest Wind Farm, a tourist destination for bikers, walkers, and horse riders, shows that nature and industry can simultaneously work.
Offshore wind farms, meanwhile, are currently installed in the Irish Sea. The first floating offshore wind farm is in the Celtic Sea, which might be the first of many.
Can I put a wind turbine in my garden in Wales?
You need to study local requirements to determine if you need planning permission or not for a wind turbine on your property.
The government permits up to the first installation provided you achieve all requirements according to the limits set out by the government.
You may check the limits and conditions set here. For more information on the Microgeneration industry, check the website here.
If conditions are not achieved, you need planning permission from the local planning authority.
Where is the largest wind farm in Wales?
Gwynt y Mor Wind Farm (translates as ‘the Sea Wind’) is the largest wind farm in Wales. The wind farm is located offshore in the Irish Sea at Liverpool Bay near the northern tip of Wales’ coastline and has a 576 MW of capacity.
The wind farm uses 3.6-MW wind turbines of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. The farm produced electricity first in 2013, and the wind farm’s 160 wind turbines received commissioning in 2015.
The Crown Estate also granted Gwynt y Mor seabed rights for an extension. Awel y Mor (translates as ‘the Sea Breeze’) targets operations in 2030.