Wales Set for Green Energy Boom with £160m UK Government Investment
The UK Government has launched an ambitious push to power Wales — and all of Britain — with clean, affordable, homegrown energy. This plan will create new jobs and boost investment, delivering on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s promise to grow the Welsh economy.
Big Bucks for Floating Offshore Wind and Cutting-Edge Tech
Grant Shapps today announced £160 million to fund pilot projects building port infrastructure for floating offshore wind farms. The goal? Up to 5GW of floating offshore wind by 2030, with a strong pipeline of projects in the Celtic Sea. Wales is right at the heart of this green revolution.
Cutting-edge green tech like carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen will drive this energy shift. Notably, the Hanson Padeswood Cement Works in North Wales has been selected for the new UK CCUS clusters, part of a £20 billion investment announced in the Spring Budget to future-proof jobs and foster half a million green roles nationwide.
Wales Ready to Become a Green Industry Powerhouse
“Wales will be at the heart of our plans to power up Britain, as we support its development of new home-grown technologies of the future,” said Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart.
Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies added: “There is huge potential in the Celtic Sea for floating offshore wind, and the UK Government is backing plans to deliver clean electricity for 4 million homes by 2035. We’re also eager to see nuclear energy come back to Wales, creating jobs and growth.”
Hydrogen Projects and Welsh Expertise in the Spotlight
The UK aims for 10GW of hydrogen production by 2030 — enough clean power to run all of London for a year. Wales is a central player here too. Statkraft’s Trecwn Green Hydrogen Valley project, funded by the £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, will build a 15MW electrolyser to produce green hydrogen using wind and solar power.
Plus, three Welsh companies have progressed in the UK’s first electrolytic hydrogen Allocation round:
- RES and Octopus Green Hydrogen
- Marubeni Europower
- H2 Energy and Trafigura
Sunak’s Green Vision: Jobs, Security, and Growth
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Thanks to our unique geography and expertise, the UK can build thriving industries in carbon capture, hydrogen, and offshore wind. Investing in powering Britain from Britain will strengthen energy security and generate well-paid jobs with big export opportunities.”
These plans mark a radical shift from decades of costly fossil fuel imports to a clean, secure energy future — with Wales leading the charge and benefitting from the green gold rush.
