The Welsh Government Energy Service has invested £210 million in more than 400 projects since 2018, including wind farms, rooftop solar installations, low carbon heating schemes, hydropower and zero emission fleets and EV.  

Under the Well-being of Future Generations Act’s Prosperous Wales well-being goal, we need to be working towards an innovative, productive and low carbon society which uses resources responsibly and supports a skilled and well-educated population.

To help us reach net zero targets and bring people along on the journey to green energy, we need more local energy being owned by communities. But currently not enough people and communities are benefitting. 

The challenges:

• We’re not on track to meet our carbon emissions targets and many public bodies won’t without additional resources and support.
• Communities don’t feel involved or listened to in decisions on climate and nature and aren’t reaping benefits of green infrastructure.

Welsh Government Energy Service

Through investing in community energy, the welsh Government Energy Service is already supporting solar, wind and water energy sources that are owned by and earning money for local people. 

The supported projects will achieve an estimated £367 million in local income and savings in their lifetimes and will have prevented the burning of nearly 300,000 tonnes of coal.   

But we need to be more ambitious. We need to see more investment in these projects where schools, health centres and community buildings in Wales are powered by renewable energy, ensuring communities earn and save money from the energy themselves.

Solar panels on Torfaen schools

Fourteen schools in Torfaen are seeing savings from the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, which convert sunlight directly into energy. 

Funded by the Welsh Government Energy Service, the project has led to an estimated saving of 2,459 tonnes of CO2 and £240,000 in annual energy costs across Torfaen Council and become an educational tool for students.  

Garnteg Primary School, where the biggest outlay is lighting, the kitchen and heating, joined the project two years ago and on an average day is seeing 163.09 kwh, the equivalent of planting 553 trees, generated. 

Since then, the school has been able to buy laptops and iPads with some of the money saved on energy bills. 

Torfaen Council explored schools with large roofs, and ideally south-facing, when deciding where to place the solar panels. 

The live solar edge portal also allows schools to see in real time how much energy is being generated and there are plans to integrate the data and learnings from the solar installations into the curriculum. 

“The solar installation project is an exciting opportunity for all the school community. Not only will the school make huge financial savings, but it will equip our pupils with vital life skills and knowledge about green energy for the future.”

Susan Roche, Garnteg Primary School Headteacher

An 11-year-old learner on the school eco council said she turns off lights in her home and walks to school and is proud to be at a school taking climate action and focusing on renewable energy solutions. She said: “Protecting our planet is so important and it feels good to be making a difference.” 

The school will also soon benefit from a heat pump installed with Welsh Government Energy Service support, through the Local Authority Low Carbon Heat Grant.