By: Dan Brew, Jargon Group Cardiff
Wales has recently been centre stage when it comes to energy with the new Prime Minister visiting the country to look at a wind farm in West Wales. A country famed for its landscapes, Wales is blessed with geographical features and environments ideal for energy production, from the tidal waves of Swansea Bay to hydropower stations in North Wales.
The nation already generates 55% of its energy from renewables with a target to meet 100% of energy needs from renewables by 2035. So what are the opportunities presented by Wales’ natural environment and where can technology play a key role?
The current landscape
According to Welsh Government statistics, in 2022 27% of all Welsh electricity generation was from renewables but with a target of 100% by 2035, there’s still a way to go! Currently, there are offshore wind farms on the coast of North Wales and the next generation of offshore wind turbines will be able to unlock even more opportunities, especially in South Wales in the area known as the Celtic Sea where existing turbines aren’t workable.
Onshore wind has lately been the topic of conversation with the Welsh Government launching a new renewable energy developer, Trydan Gwrdd Cymru. The developer will aim to consult with local communities on the impacts of renewable technologies on nature and people, giving the citizens of Wales more of a direct say. Wind appears to be the prevailing force, but on the other hand, is Wales seeing the waves of opportunity?
Seizing the opportunities
Wind might be the focus of the renewable energy conversation today in Wales but the waves have a real untapped potential to help meet energy needs. Britain’s west coast has one of the largest tidal ranges in the entire world, making it the ideal place to harness the power of the sea but current energy production doesn’t reflect this. Numerous plans have also been devised for Swansea Bay but so far they haven’t managed to get the necessary levels of backing to proceed. The latest plan involved a green hydrogen facility and a data centre, so unlocking the potential of waves could pave the way for a greener and more prosperous Welsh technology sector in the future, making the country a destination for sustainable data centres.
Wales isn’t just home to brilliant locations to harness tidal energy but also opportunities to further the development of new technologies. In Pembrokeshire, Bombora has devised a new device that squeezes air out of cell modules and an axial turbine to generate electricity from waves. With a natural landscape in abundance, Wales is perfectly positioned to become a test ground for the renewable technologies of the future, with private sector companies working closely with research institutions to develop the technologies to harness the power of the natural environment. Watch this space as the next chapter of Wales’ energy story unfolds.