Energy Generation in Wales 2018 in 5 minutes

A graphical summary of the Energy Generation in Wales 2018 report

Full report available at gov.wales

Introduction

This accompanying document summarises:

• Progress towards renewable energy targets• Renewable energy generation in Wales• Local authority area progress• Local ownership stories

Since 2006, energy consumption has fallen 15%. Electricity generation from nuclear and coal has reduced to almost zero, whereas natural gas and renewable generation has increased.

(TW

h)

Renewables

Gas

Coal

Nuclear

Wales’ annual electricity consumption

2006 2009 2012 2015 2018

30

40

10

20

0

Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and continuing to develop and support renewable energy, with local ownership, will help us achieve our low carbon vision and maximise the value to Wales.

Lesley GriffithsMinister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

The Energy Generation in Wales 2018 report sets out the current energy generation capacity of Wales, and analyses how it has changed over time.

Welsh electricity generation and consumption trends

Progress towards target

Con sumption

Renewable generationProgres s to

wards target

10%

30%

50%

70%

0

8

4

12

16

20

24

Elec

tric

ity

con

sum

pti

on

an

d g

ener

atio

n (

TWh

)

Elec

tric

ity

con

sum

pti

on

fro

m r

enew

able

s (%

)

2006 2010 2014 2018

Percentage of electricity consumption from renewables

50% in 2018

Target percentage of electricity consumption from renewables

70%

Electricity consumption

14.8 TWh in 2018

Renewable electricity generation

7.4 TWh in 2018

Target

Target: By 2030,renewables in Wales to generate electricity equal to 70% of Wales’ consumption.

Progress: In 2018, the

equivalent of 50% of Welsh

electricity consumption

was generated from Welsh renewables.Progre

ss s

o f

ar

70% target

Renewable electricity target

Generation and consumption trends

Renewable energy sources generated enough electricity to meet half of Wales’ needs in 2018.

50%

Wales is a net exporter of electricity, generating around twice as much electricity as it consumes.

Electricity generation in Wales

Others

Onshore

wind

Offshorewind

SolarPV

Coal

Diese

l

Renewables7.4 TWh25%

Fossil fuels22.8 TWh

75%Gas

0.4

0.5

21.9

0.9

1.5

2.2

2.8

Electricity generation over time

0.0 TWhNuclear 7.0

21.9 TWhGas 14.9

0.4 TWhCoal 8.9

7.4 TWhRenewables 1.6

2006 2018

Wales’ electricity generation mix

Wind power made up over half of all renewable energy generation in 2018.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy generation mix

Offshore wind23%

Hydro4%

Others4%

Others2%

Onshore wind29%

Solar PV

10%

Biomass electricity and CHP

8%

Biomass electricity and CHP

7%

Biomass heat14%

Total:9.7 TWh

Renewable electricity: 7.4 TWh77% of total renewable energy

Renewable heat: 2.3 TWh23% of total renewable energy

The Welsh Government has set a target for 1 GW (1,000 MW)of renewable energy capacity to be locally owned by 2030.

Progress towards target so far

Local ownership target

0 MW 1,000 MW

towards target

Progress

64,637projects

1,812 MWhgenerated

783 MWlocally owned renewable

energy capacity2018

Local ownership by capacity (MW)

Housing association Community Domestic Local authorityLocal business Other public sectorFarms and estates

12 286 38 140 263 29 17

heat power heat power

There are over 68,700 renewable heat and electricity projects installed across Wales.

Local authority area progress

Renewable generation by local authority area

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2Torfaen

Blaenau GwentMerthyr Tyd�l

Swansea

Caerphilly

Vale of Glamorgan

Newport

Isle of Anglesey

Denbighshire

Conwy

Wrexham

BridgendGwynedd

Monmouthshire

Cardiff

PembrokeshireCarmarthenshire

CeredigionRhondda Cynon Taf

FlintshirePowys

Neath Port Talbot

Biomass electricity,CHP and waste

Onshore wind Biomass

Solar PV Others

Hydro

Annual estimated generation (TWh)

Brechfa Forest West wind farmThe community investment fund from this 55 MW wind farm is expected to be worth up to £11 million over 25 years.

Brenig wind farmThis 16-turbine, 38 MW wind farm was completed in 2018, with a £4 million fund for the local rural community.

Radyr Weir hydro schemeThis scheme uses the current of the river Taff to power over 500 homes a year, and is owned by Cardiff Council.

‘Battery @ PYC’At 22 MW, this is the UK’s largest battery co-located with an onshore wind farm.

Low carbon heatThis 173 kW water-source heat pump was the largest heat pump installed in Wales in 2018.

Rhiwfelin fach farmThis turbine supplies 10% of the Royal Mint’s electricity demand, and is painted to resemble a giant daffodil.

Local stories

The Energy Generation in Wales 2018 full report is available at gov.wales

ISBN: 978-1-83933-194-7