The Welsh Affairs Committee will be holding an evidence session on 26 October exploring floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The Committee will be assessing the potential benefits for Wales and evaluate what is being done to accelerate its roll-out. The session will also look at some of the challenges in rolling out floating wind, such as grid capacity and supply chains, along with the role of port infrastructure and how a freeport bid from Port Talbot and the Port of Milford Haven might contribute to the sector.
The meeting comes after a report from the committee warned that an absence of leadership from the UK government on improving grid connectivity, and delays in approving grid connections, is slowing improvements in energy resilience and puts economic growth at risk for communities across Wales. It called for action to allow Wales to exploit opportunities ranging from floating offshore wind to tidal energy.
The Committee said positive work includes National Grid ESO’s blueprint to connect offshore wind to the grid and the appointment of a Networks Commissioner tasked with reducing timelines for grid connectivity. But the barriers include the regulatory framework not allowing anticipatory investment, delays in planning consent and high upfront connection costs. The Committee asked the UK government how it will achieve its aim to reduce consenting and licencing processing times by 50% within a year.
It said, “This is particularly pertinent as the UK Government seeks to improve the UK’s energy resilience in the wake of the war in Ukraine and squeeze on international energy supplies,” but in any case “Resolving these issues, and creating a more streamlined approach, is vital for economic growth in Wales. Many renewable energy projects that are ready to be built are being held back amid uncertainty over how they will connect to the grid.” It highlighted plans for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and tidal energy at Morlais as projects held back by poor connections, as well as community and local renewables projects.
Welsh Affairs Committee Chair, Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP, said: “With developers wanting to accelerate investment in opportunities like floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, the UK Government must demonstrate a similar level of urgency and ambition in reducing the costs and barriers to new grid connections.
“… Without clear leadership on this issue that pulls together the different parties involved, inadequate grid capacity will continue to be the biggest block on the pathway to Wales reaching Net Zero.”