I am pleased that clean growth has been placed at the heart of the new Industrial Strategy which aims to cut emissions while keeping costs down for consumers, create high value jobs and to grow the economy.
The development of renewable energy is already a tremendous UK success story and, thanks to significant investment and support, renewable capacity has quadrupled in the past decade. In 2018, a third of our electricity generation came from renewable sources and the Government has sent clear signals to investors and businesses that our country is transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
However, the Government does not believe that more large-scale onshore wind power is right for England at this time. While onshore wind farms play an important role in supporting our renewable needs, it is important to appreciate that they often fail to win public support. That is why I agree it is right that more power has been given to local communities on where wind farms can be built, with the final say resting locally.
That said, established technologies such as onshore wind are reducing in cost and if this continues it may have the capacity to play a significant role in the UK’s generation mix going forward.
Ultimately, it is right that support should be focused on technologies where it is most needed, which is why the Government announced in the Clean Growth Strategy that it would make up to £557 million of annual funding available for less established technologies including onshore wind projects on remote islands that directly benefit local communities.
All onshore wind projects under 350MW are devolved in Wales and you may be aware that a number of projects in Wales are underway.
Update now available on gov.uk
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-more-homes-to-be-powered-by-renewables
Rydw i’n falch bod twf glân yn rhan greiddiol o’r Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol newydd, sy’n ceisio lleihau allyriadau a chadw costau i lawr i ddefnyddwyr, yn ogystal â chreu swyddi gwerth uchel a thyfu’r economi.
Mae datblygu ynni adnewyddadwy eisoes yn un o lwyddiannau aruthrol y DU a, diolch i fuddsoddiad a chefnogaeth sylweddol, mae’r capasiti ar gyfer ynni adnewyddadwy bedair gwaith yn fwy nag oedd ddegawd yn ôl. Yn 2018, roedd traean o’n trydan roeddem ni’n ei gynhyrchu’n dod o ffynonellau adnewyddadwy ac mae’r Llywodraeth wedi anfon negeseuon clir at fuddsoddwyr a busnesau bod ein gwlad yn symud tuag at economi carbon isel.
Fodd bynnag, nid yw’r Llywodraeth yn credu mai mwy o bŵer gwynt ar raddfa fawr yw’r ateb gorau ar gyfer Lloegr ar hyn o bryd. Er bod ffermydd gwynt ar y tir yn chwarae rhan bwysig o ran cefnogi ein hanghenion adnewyddadwy, mae’n bwysig gwerthfawrogi eu bod yn aml yn methu ennyn cefnogaeth y cyhoedd. Dyna pam rydw i’n cytuno bod angen rhoi mwy o bŵer i gymunedau lleol o ran penderfynu lle gellir adeiladu ffermydd gwynt, ac mai’r bobl leol ddylai gael y gair olaf.
Wedi dweud hynny, mae cost technolegau sefydlog fel ynni gwynt ar y tir yn lleihau ac, os bydd hyn yn parhau, mae’n bosibl y bydd yn gallu chwarae rhan sylweddol yng nghymysgedd cynhyrchiant y DU.
Yn y pen draw, mae’n iawn i’r cymorth hwnnw ganolbwyntio ar dechnolegau lle mae ei angen fwyaf, a dyna pam y cyhoeddodd y Llywodraeth yn y Strategaeth Twf Glân y byddai’n darparu hyd at £557 miliwn o gyllid blynyddol ar gyfer technolegau llai sefydledig, gan gynnwys prosiectau gwynt ar y tir ar ynysoedd anghysbell sydd o fudd uniongyrchol i gymunedau lleol.
Mae pob prosiect gwynt ar y tir o dan 350MW wedi’i ddatganoli yng Nghymru ac efallai eich bod yn ymwybodol bod nifer o brosiectau ar y gweill yng Nghymru.