The Energy Island programme was launched by Isle of Anglesey County Council with support from Welsh Government in 2010. Unfortunately we produce less energy on Ynys Môn and employ fewer people in the energy sector now than we did when the programme started. With the UK Government, I want to change that and truly manifest Ynys Môn as Energy Island.
Amongst its investments in renewable energy the UK Government has committed £230m to offshore wind, £20m per year to tidal energy projects and nearly £5m to the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub. I am working with businesses like BP, Menter Môn, Minesto and Morlais to help them access funding for innovative renewable energy initiatives. These operations can bring hundreds of well-paid technical careers to the people of Ynys Môn and help deliver the UK Government's 2050 net zero target.
The UK Government is keen to take advantage of the opportunities that Ynys Môn has to offer particularly in terms of offshore tidal and wind power. One of the reasons I have brought so many Ministers here is to see the huge potential our island has to support renewable power generation. I also wanted them to understand how our island has been under-resourced for so many years and just how much our local communities need levelling up.
The UK Government is:
- Investing up to £160 million in ports and supply chains and £31 million in Research & Development (R&D) funding
- expecting to bring forward up to 5GW of floating offshore wind by 2030
- delivering £40 billion of private investment in renewables
- aiming to increase renewable energy capacity by a further 15 per cent in the next two years.
With funding and support going into operations like Morlais and Minesto tidal power and BP Mona offshore wind I am working hard to make sure Energy Island earns its moniker.
