Tackling climate change is close to the top of the political agenda at the moment – with the 海角视频 Government pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable power is a crucial part of this, especially as the technology continues to evolve, bringing down the cost of producing green electricity.
North Wales is playing an increasingly important part in the sector with wind, hydro, tidal and solar schemes across the entire region.
Alongside the environmental benefits is the economic gain with hundreds already employed in renewables and the potential for many more.
The biggest name in the sector in this region is Innogy, a subsidiary of German energy company RWE.
They are behind the £2bn Gwynt y Mor 576MW wind farm – one of the biggest off-shore wind developments in the world. It has brought clean energy and 100 jobs based at the port at Mostyn.
There was also £90m spent with Welsh firms during the construction and the community benefit package that will deliver £19m over the project’s lifetime.
John Porter, operations & maintenance manager at Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm said: “Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm has created so many opportunities for North Wales.
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“In addition to generating clean, green power for Wales, the project has created highly skilled jobs, supply chain opportunities and, of course, brought the community benefit fund which has supported countless causes and events in the area.”
The company also operates Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm (90MW) and North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm (60MW). When it comes to onshore wind they have just started generating power at the 96MW Clocaenog Forest Onshore Wind Farm. Put together, all the onshore and offshore turbines produce enough electricity for more than 550,000 homes.
The company also runs a series of hydro sites in the region from Dolgarrog in the Conwy Valley to Cwm Dyli on the southern flank of the Snowdon range.
Looking to the future there is the potential for more investment.
In October 2018, The Crown Estate completed a review of applications to extend existing 海角视频 offshore wind farms. Subject to a successful Habitats Regulations Assessment The Crown Estate intends to grant rights to extend offshore wind projects including Gwynt y Môr.
A spokesman said: “Innogy and our offshore project partners are delighted with this initial announcement from The Crown Estate. We now await the conclusion of the next phase.”
The results are expected in August, after which The Crown Estate will award an Agreement for Lease to each of the successful applicants.
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This coincides with the Offshore Wind Sector Deal which is a long-term partnership between the industry and the 海角视频 Government and is the first Sector Deal for a renewable energy technology. The Deal will see the number of 海角视频 jobs triple in the offshore industry to 27,000 by 2030.
An important part of the Sector Deal is also to help lead the development of regional clusters around the country, helping to boost the local supply chain and job creation, so that local businesses can then offer their services further afield also. Innogy is champion for the North West North Wales cluster and is in the process of kick-starting an organisation to lead and manage this regional cluster.
Offshore wind clusters are designed to drive competitiveness, economies of scale, productivity, knowledge and innovation which in turn can lead to more business opportunity; more inward investment; more employment; growth in the local economy.
Innogy was also successful in the Alwen tender in 2017 – an exercise run by Natural Resources Wales(NRW) and Dwr Cymru for an option to develop a renewable energy project in the Alwen Forest. The project is located mainly in Conwy county, adjacent to Llyn Brenig and the Alwen Reservoir within working forestry managed by NRW.
It means that the environmental and economic impact of Innogy looks set to grow further in the coming years.