Blog: What’s the big “deal” with renewable energy in Wales?

A renewable energy sector deal was published by Welsh Government and the renewables industry today (18 March 2026).  

And it couldn’t have come soon enough. 

The Cymru Clean Power announcement comes against the backdrop of conflict and instability abroad, which is driving up energy prices for Welsh households and businesses already facing eyewatering energy costs.  

With energy demand set to triple by 2050 through the electrification of our homes, cars, public services and industry the choice is clear – we either power Wales with home-grown, clean energy, or tie ourselves to fossil fuels from abroad which are vulnerable to global turmoil. 

Our energy security mission is and should therefore be seen as a national security mission, too. 

Because behind the headlines of Wales as an energy exporter sits a challenging reality – only a third of our energy comes from renewables. The remainder? Imported gas. 

What’s the Welsh Government’s Cymru Clean Power deal?

So, what is a Sector Deal?

What does it have to do with renewable energy? And why does collaboration, partnership, and constructive challenge between government and industry actually matter? 

The ‘Deal’ is a starter for ten to overcome key challenges in the delivery of renewable energy and sets out an agreed framework for collaboration and delivery. This includes making the most of and realising the benefits for Wales. Its north star? Ensuring that by 2035 Wales can meet all our electricity needs from home-grown, clean energy. 

It’s a set of 75 shared commitments across seven themes and across a multitude of technologies across solar PV, onshore and offshore wind, floating wind, marine and tidal, as well as hydropower and pumped storage. The themes include:  

1. the enabling environment. 
2. market and investment conditions. 
3. skills and the workforce. 
4. the grid in Wales. 
5. innovation and research. 
6. infrastructure and supply chains; and 
7. community ownership and benefits.  

“I want my kids to know that we are working now to safeguard their future.”

This isn’t, however, just about finding a way through some the system challenges that keeps our energy security at arm’s length.  

This is about grasping the opportunity of a generation; the opportunity to lay the foundations for a thriving future for Wales and our communities, powered by clean energy.  I want my kids to know that we are working now to safeguard their future and I am proud to be able to tell them that I was involved in the preparation of the Cymru Clean Power partnership.     

Why is renewable energy important in Wales?

By 2035, the renewables industry could help nurture a resilient, thriving economy. A thriving industry backed by home-grown Welsh business and talent, a beacon for Wales’ innovators and investors; a new Welsh industry powering Wales and the world.  

• £10 billion in private investment for Welsh business 

• Nearly 8,000 skilled, high-paid jobs with salaries 26% higher the Welsh average 

• Almost £2 billion in tax revenue to support public services, with onshore wind the highest contributor to local authorities. 

• £183 million in direct community benefit funds for local initiatives 

• 13 million tonnes of CO2 emissions saved by 2035 – the equivalent of taking almost 10 million cars off the road. 

Achieving this requires the next Welsh Government to be active in its relationship with the energy transition, and to act at pace to make this future a reality – a sector deal can put us on a more certain path to realising that future.  

Wales’ 2035 targets are intrinsically linked to evidenced climate targets, and the rate of deployment needed to get there is significant. An analysis carried out for our first onshore wind project Twyn Hywel Energy Park considered the impact that the project would have on the Wellbeing Goals and corresponding Indicators of Wales as defined by the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act, now in its 10th year. It found that the project would have a positive impact on over 80% of the well-being indictors including a more Prosperous Wales, a more Resilient Wales, a Healthier Wales, and a Globally Responsible Wales. 

This isn’t renewable energy for the sake of it, but for the economic power it can unleash, the social legacy it can power, and the environmental safeguards it can provide. 

Now is the time to act – for us, for our planet, and for future generations.