Great British Energy to fund new community energy projects in Wales

• Wales to receive nearly £3 million to build community renewable energy projects

• Great British Energy and UK Government funding will give more communities in Wales ownership of their own innovative clean power projects
• Local clean energy projects will boost the Welsh economy and boost energy security as part of government’s Plan for Change

A new wave of community clean energy projects will be built in Wales thanks to nearly £3 million funding from Great British Energy and the UK Government.

In another step forward for the government’s Plan for Change, the Energy Secretary has today (Friday 21 March) announced the first major project for Great British Energy – a company owned by the British people, for the British people – to invest in more rooftop solar and community energy. This includes funding for Wales to roll out new renewable infrastructure such as onshore wind, or solar, to provide clean power for Welsh communities.

Households have been hit with rocketing energy bills in recent years, costing taxpayers millions of pounds. Great British Energy’s additional investment into local renewable projects will give communities a stake in their energy supply.

The funding will further support the Welsh Government’s action to deliver more clean energy projects – shown in its decade of support for community and public energy through the Welsh Government Energy Service.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

“Together with Great British Energy, we’re putting power back into the hands of the Welsh people by giving communities a stake in their energy supply and ensuring they can reap the benefits.

 “This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, with lower bills and energy security for our country.”

First Minister Eluned Morgan said:

“We welcome the move to support local and community energy projects. The UK Government’s extra funding means we can deliver more energy security and value for people, through our Wales Funding Programme

“Working with Great British Energy will allow us to speed up delivery across our communities, similar to the support we provided to Morriston Hospital to develop its own solar farm, through the Welsh Government Energy Service.”

 Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

“The UK Government is delivering our clean energy mission in Wales as part of our Plan for Change.

“The investment from the UK Government and Great British Energy will support the Welsh Government to develop clean energy projects that create jobs, provide energy security, and bring down bills.

“This is another example of two governments working together to deliver for the people of Wales.”

Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier said:

“This funding will roll out clean, homegrown energy projects, crowd in investment and create job opportunities across Wales.

“Great British Energy will continue to work to ensure that people in Wales directly benefit from the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower.”

The UK Government has previously shown its support for renewable and clean energy projects in Wales. As part of the £1.7bn boost for Wales set out by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget, the government is backing two electrolytic hydrogen projects in Milford Haven and Bridgend, to support low carbon hydrogen production in the future.

Funding will also go towards rooftop solar in schools and hospitals and community energy in England, kickstarting the Local Power Plan and ensuring the benefits of this national mission are felt at a local level, with energy security, good jobs and economic growth.

Backed by £8.3 billion over this Parliament, Great British Energy will own and invest in clean energy projects across the UK. This will range from supporting community energy – like the solar power schemes announced today – to unlocking significant investment in major clean energy projects that will revitalise the UK’s industrial heartlands with new jobs, alongside securing Britain’s energy supply.