£12.9m Funding to Help Welsh Communities Lead Renewable Energy Transition
£12.9m Funding to Help Welsh Communities Lead Renewable Energy Transition
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Green energy projects across Wales are set to share more than £12.9 million in funding to accelerate the transition to local, renewable power.
The funding, announced by the Welsh Government through the Ynni Cymru Capital Grant Scheme, will support 48 projects installing technologies such as solar panels, heat pumps, battery storage and electric vehicle charging points.
The scheme is designed to accelerate the rollout of Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES), which aim to cut costs, create local jobs and build more resilient energy infrastructure. It forms a central part of Wales’ target to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035.
Projects awarded funding in this round include more than £910,000 for the Wales Millennium Centre to install solar panels, a battery energy storage system, EV chargers and solar thermal systems, with energy savings to be reinvested into the community. Coleg Cambria will receive almost £750,000 towards developing a low-carbon learning hub and energy-efficient building.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: “We’re putting communities at the heart of Wales’ clean energy transition and I’m grateful to organisations for bringing forward their innovative proposals.
“There is clearly an appetite for energy systems that keep the benefits within our communities, and I’m delighted we are able to support so many quality projects.
“Smarter, cleaner energy generation will have wide-ranging benefits and importantly, a positive impact on people all across Wales.”
To highlight the impact of previous rounds of funding, the Cabinet Secretary visited South Cornelly in Bridgend, where Challoch Energy Ltd and the South Cornelly Renewable Energy Community Interest Company (SCRE-CIC) partnered to create the South Cornelly Local Energy Market.
More than 50 homes in the village have benefitted from solar panels, battery storage and smart controls, allowing residents to save between 20–50% on their energy bills.
Dr Simon Minett, Managing Director of Challoch Energy, said: “Our partnership with SCRE-CIC has been a great success with the residents of the village keen to join the journey towards decarbonisation, cost reductions, and the ability to take control of their energy requirements.
“The Ynni Cymru grant support last year was the catalyst of change and is the first major step in creating the smart local energy system to benefit all residents. We think this is a blueprint for other Welsh rural communities to be inspired by.”
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