Local Power Plan

More communities in Wales will have the chance to run their own renewable energy projects thanks to an historic and unprecedented investment by our UK Labour Government.

The new “Local Power Plan”, which we have launched with publicly owned Great British Energy, includes up to £1 billion for local renewable projects.

It marks Britain’s biggest ever investment in community energy.

Community ownership is transforming the country, with community-owned pubs, leisure centres and libraries.

Welsh Labour has led the way on community energy, setting up publicly owned company Ynni Cymru in 2023 to support local projects.

In just one year, Great British Energy has already invested more than £9 million into community and public sector projects here in Wales.

GB Energy will continue to work with Ynni Cymru to drive community ownership.

Ben Ferguson, co-executive director of Community Energy Wales, has welcomed the Plan, saying:

“Our members in Wales are ready to grow their ambition with this support from Great British Energy, welcoming and supporting new and emerging community energy enterprises to participate in the transformative benefits of community ownership of distributed and democratising energy technology.”

Superpower

Wales is at the forefront of our mission to become a clean energy superpower.

By investing in clean, homegrown power, we will reduce energy bills for good and make prices less susceptible to global shocks like the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

We recently ran the biggest offshore wind auction in the history of Europe, which saw not one but two exciting projects gain approval in Wales.

Awel y Mor (North Wales) could comprise as many as 50 turbines and generate enough electricity to power half of the homes in Wales.

The second, Erebus in Pembrokeshire, could become Wales’ first floating wind farm.

While traditional offshore wind farms are fixed to the seabed, “floating” farms are built on floating structures, which means the turbines can be manufactured and maintained on land.

Not everyone supports our ambition for energy in Wales. Plaid Cymru claim to back renewable projects but oppose the infrastructure that is needed to make it happen.

The trade association RenewableUK Cymru, which represents the industry here in Wales, says Plaid’s policies would cost us billions and make us a less competitive destination for future investment.

Our Local Power Plan puts power and wealth back in the hands of local people, so profits can flow back into our companies, not simply out to big energy companies.

It will give people a stake in the places they call home, generating pride and prosperity – as well as homegrown power.