Wales Maps Out Energy Self Sufficiency

In a move that will be closely watched by supporters of environmentally friendly energy on both sides of the Irish Sea, proposals for making Wales self-sufficient in renewable energy within 20 years are being launched today by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Welsh Environment Minister Jane Davidson will highlight how much clean energy Wales should produce from wind, marine and biomass sources.

Her consultation paper is expected to say Wales would also be able to significantly contribute to the UK's energy needs.

Environmentalists have already said they hoped the map would strongly support wind power.

Ms Davidson will launch the so-called 'route map' on renewable energy in Cwmbran on Tuesday.

Wales could create far more electricity than it consumes with around half coming from marine sources, a third from wind and most of the rest from sustainable biomass.

The government said the ambitious programme would demonstrate to the world what even small countries can do to maximise use of their natural renewable resources.

Along with plans for energy efficiency, skills and research and development, it would be a major step towards making Wales a low carbon energy economy.

Friends of the Earth Cymru (FoE) said the draft proposals had to give strong support for wind energy, which it claims is the most advanced and cost-effective renewable energy technologies and could deliver immediate reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

Gordon James, FoE director, said: "We hope that the energy route map will recognise the severity of the threat posed by climate change and strongly back solutions that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions as quickly as possible."

The group also called for the map to reject proposals for a Severn barrage, claiming the £15bn cost could be better spent generating more energy in a less time from other sources and low carbon schemes.

In July 2005, the Welsh Assembly Government identified seven areas across Wales it had chosen for the development of wind farms.

Its aim was to increase the energy from renewable sources by 10% by 2010.

Meanwhile, across the Irish Sea, at Strangford Lough in County Down - which has one of the fastest tidal flows in the world - a marine turbine is to be installed and will produce energy for 1,000 homes when it becomes operational.

The SeaGen initiative will be one of the world's first such turbines to create commercial amounts of electricity.

The turbine has the capacity to generate 1.2mw of electricity, four times more than any other tidal turbine.

However, concerns remain over the sensitive lough environment, though the makers say that a team of environmental scientists will be on hand to monitor the turbine's operation.

See: Strangford Lough Turbine Plan Powers Ahead

(BMcC)