RenewableUK Cymru Issues Manifesto Ahead of Senedd Election
The next Welsh Government must implement a comprehensive clean power strategy to prevent the loss of billions in investment and thousands of high-skilled jobs, according to RenewableUK Cymru. The sector's representative body has released a manifesto outlining how Wales could unlock a £10 billion economic opportunity for local businesses, create 8,000 secure, well-paid positions, and deliver affordable, domestically produced energy through a formal clean power partnership between government and industry.
Doubling Electricity Demand and Current Challenges
The manifesto, titled Cymru Clean Power: Call for Government 2026, highlights that electricity demand in Wales is projected to double, potentially triple, by 2050. Two planned AI growth zones in south and north Wales alone could require as much electricity as a city the size of Cardiff. This surge will be driven by electrified heavy industry, electric vehicles, and heat pumps. However, most of Wales' electricity still comes from imported gas, exposing households and businesses to volatile global prices.
Jessica Hooper, director of RenewableUK Cymru, emphasized the urgency: "As parties set out their priorities for Wales, energy is our defining economic choice. Clean energy is one of the UK's fastest-growing industries. Wales has the natural resources, the projects in the pipeline, and investors ready to go. But without a grid fit for the future, that opportunity will not be realised."
Economic Benefits and Grid Modernization Needs
RenewableUK Cymru's analysis shows that accelerating large-scale wind, solar, and tidal projects would deliver average salaries of £49,000—approximately £10,000 above the Welsh average—generate up to £183 million in community benefit funding over the next decade, and protect households from price volatility by reducing reliance on imported gas. The manifesto stresses that Wales must modernize its grid network to connect power to homes, businesses, and industry. Without increased capacity, new renewable projects will stall, and investment decisions will drift elsewhere.
Hooper added: "A Cymru clean power partnership would turn potential into delivery—securing affordable, home-grown energy, billions in investment, thousands of well-paid jobs, and millions in funding for communities across Wales."
Plaid Cymru's Proposals and Community Ownership
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth recently outlined the party's energy plans if elected. These include requiring a minimum community-ownership stake of 15 to 25% for all energy projects over 10 megawatts, or equivalent means of capturing community benefits. The party also aims to increase the number of communities with the capacity to buy into projects at scale and establish a national energy body for Wales responsible for developing large-scale projects, embedding meaningful community ownership, and supporting smaller-scale community energy initiatives.
Iorwerth stated: "Plaid Cymru supports renewable energy unequivocally just as we believe that the wellbeing of communities has to be at the heart of the Welsh Government's energy strategy." However, projects like the Alwen Forest windfarm, which took eight years to consent with a 20% community ownership stake, raise questions about whether the sector would invest at the required scale with such thresholds.
Grid Infrastructure and Cost Concerns
Regarding distribution lines—a devolved matter—Plaid Cymru would prohibit large steel lattice pylons for lines 132 kilovolt or below, favoring underground cables with overhead alternatives only via low wooden poles or less intrusive infrastructure. RenewableUK Cymru warns that burying power lines can cost up to five times more than overhead lines, potentially deterring investment and impacting bill payers. The organization advocates for a "pragmatic, cost-effective approach" to grid modernization.
Plaid Cymru has also dropped its previous pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions in Wales by 2035. Iorwerth commented: "I think most people now can see that 2035 isn't realistic. We are very close. Time rolls by, and we have to take a pragmatic look at that. I think everything points to needing to be a point in the future where we need to keep an eye on the prize."
The manifesto presents a clear choice for voters and politicians: continue importing fossil fuels or build a home-grown clean energy system that powers jobs, industry, and communities across Wales. With the Senedd Election approaching, the debate over Wales' energy future intensifies, highlighting the critical need for strategic action to harness renewable potential.
