Renewables could produce 30 per cent of Welsh electricity 2010

Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth Cymru (FOE Cymru) have launched a campaign to persuade the Assembly to invest in a green industrial revolution to create jobs in clean energy technologies and tackle dangerous global warming.

FOE Cymru are calling for economic policies to encourage and enable the generation of over 30% of current Welsh electricity demand from renewable sources by 2010 (6 Terawatt hours per year out of 20 TWhrs/year (1 and 2). The call comes in response to the Assembly's Economic Development Committee's Public Consultation on renewable energy targets (April 18th to July 5th).

The campaigners say that if Wales achieves 30% of electricity generation by renewables in eight to nine years time then Wales will give a strong lead by example in the global move to green electricity production. In the process, the renewable energy industry will support a healthy fabric of employment in rural hills, Valley towns, historic ports and seaside resorts.

FOE Cymru point out that renewable energy schemes such as windfarms, biomass and hydro schemes, under sea turbines and tidal lagoons generally:

• are, or are forecast by the Government to be, mostly cheaper than fossil fuels and nuclear power, onshore wind significantly so
• emit few greenhouse gases unlike fossil fuels
• are clean and safe, emitting no or few damaging and costly acid rain gases and other air pollutants
• are an indigenous or self-sufficient and secure source of energy forever
• give price stability, being little affected by world events and oil prices
• create more jobs per unit of energy than fossil fuel or nuclear generation

The campaigners anticipate that some will say that a 30% renewable electricity target by 2010 is not feasible so the campaigners have itemised how 30% or more is feasible and how it would likely be achieved. Neither is it all about onshore windfarms which comprise between 6-10% of the group's target. The overall proposals include 15% from onshore and 15% from offshore technologies:

Onshore windfarms 6-10 %
Biomass schemes: 3-5 %
Hydro schemes: 1-2 %
Solar photovoltaic (PV): 1+ %
Landfill tips and mines gas: 1-2 %

Offshore windfarms: 10+ %
Marine current turbines: 4-5 %
Tidal (lagoon) generators: 2-14 %

(there may also be other demonstration technologies by 2010 such as geothermal and offshore wave power schemes)

FOE Cymru freely say that the target is in part aspirational because the Assembly does not yet have planning powers for power stations over 50 MW or offshore schemes. The Assembly and the Welsh public should call for the relevant powers to be devolved, rather than the possible transfer back of major schemes determination by Westminster under Lord Falconer's proposals (see FOE Cymru PR May 8th). In the meantime, investing to maximise shore side installation, maintenance and particularly manufacturing jobs could create employment especially in hard-pressed Objective One areas.

Neil Crumpton, energy spokesperson for the group said:

"The awesome threat of global warming should not cloud our view to the economic opportunities and social benefits of pursuing what could be called a green industrial revolution. By investing in renewable energy technologies, which can create electricity and employment in both rural and urban areas across Wales, we also attack global warming emissions at source.

We estimate that a thirty percent target for current Welsh electricity demand to be generated by renewable energy technologies by 2010 is both advisable and achievable. Indeed, the switch from coal to gas generated electricity in the 1990s, known as the dash for gas, resulted in the building of new power stations totalling 33% of all power station capacity in England and Wales.

The difference here is that renewable energy schemes generate clean, safe and secure electricity supplies essentially for ever, all from indigenous natural resources. What's more, most renewable energy technologies will, or are already producing electricity which is cheaper than that from the global warming villains of coal and oil and for some even gas (see costs list in notes). Wales could also have the worlds first tidal lagoon generator currently being planned for Swansea Bay.

What are we waiting for? We say to the Assembly, plan for thirty percent renewable electricity by 2010 and press Westminster for the devolved planning powers needed to achieve thirty percent by 2010."

Tomorrow (Saturday) local Friends of the Earth groups will be on the High Streets of seven cities and towns around Wales, inviting the public to lobby their AMs to aim for 30% renewable electricity by 2010.

Notes

1) Please do not confuse Wales electricity production from Welsh demand - production is about 30 TWhrs/year, demand is about 20 TWhrs/year the balance is transmitted to England. A 10 % PRODUCTION target may imply 4 Twhrs/year by 2010, we are calling for 6TWhrs/year by 2010.

Note also that we say CURRENT Welsh demand - This is likely to change (up or down) by 2010 because of energy efficiency improvements and policies and changes in consumption patterns - in any event 6 TWhrs/year is our proposed target.