Onshore wind is a mature technology. It is proven, it is reliable and can be deployed at low cost and rapidly. Britain needs to develop clean energy at meet the Clean Energy targets for 2030.

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, repeatedly referred to change having begun and being on a mission. Cleaner Energy is one of the five missions laid out. He referred to a spirit of ingenuity and enterprise. He also spoke about the importance of having a decisive government who are prepared to be serious and develop a long-term strategy. He stated that the change had begun and this was evidenced by introducing the Clean Energy Mission Control, by lifting the ban on Onshore wind in England and by the establishment of GB Energy.

This type of intent is exactly what developers of renewable power need to hear. It is the intent with which we at Bute Energy go about out business every day. We believe in the value of enterprise and ingenuity as we look for solutions that will bring better and more effective projects to the fore as we develop the abundant wind energy potential in Wales.

Onshore Wind: A Vital Component for 2030 Energy Targets

The development of power infrastructure is difficult. But it is also extremely necessary. It contributes across all aspects of our lives and our country. We depend upon electricity and the demand will increase as we decarbonise the heating of our homes and the powering of the vehicles we use every day. This requires more power, and more power requires generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure to be developed and deployed at pace. Not all are happy for this to happen, but the large majority of people in the UK see the need for this and we must press on.

We cannot ignore the wishes of our communities, however. We must consult and inform them and work with them to get the most agreeable solutions. We cannot please everyone though. It is incumbent on us, and on all developers, to highlight the benefits of what we are doing. The Bute Energy portfolio alone has the potential to add over 2GW of clean energy to the grid. The investment required totals around £3bn. A large portion of this will flow directly into the Welsh supply chain.  It’s a very exciting time for onshore wind energy in the UK.

Green Jobs and Community Investment: The Benefits of Renewable Energy Development

With this investment also comes the potential for thousands of jobs and training opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. The renewable energy industry has a strong track record of involving communities, training people, employing people and offering satisfying and meaningful work. At Bute Energy, this is our goal too as we work with our supply chain partners and community partners to help improve people’s lives. We provide internships and training opportunities and will also be developing other ways to help people into the world of work.

The Bute Energy project portfolio is progressing at pace. We have projects in various stages of planning and development. We have a portfolio that is of strategic importance to Wales and to the UK as we reach for the 2030 energy targets.

Supporting Wales’ Wind Energy Potential

Investors and Developers need long-term assurances about the stability of regulatory frameworks and market frameworks. As I have said before, we need to see a consistent planning process, a clear and reliable route to market and the grid upgrades and development being put in place in a timely manner to accommodate the increase in green generation. This is the change we need.

So at Bute, we too are on a mission. The change to clean green energy is happening and we aim to be a key part of the solution, working with the Welsh and UK administrations as we all push on to achieve our clean energy goals by 2030.