IN a landmark visit to West Wales, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan have pledged to intensify efforts to position Britain as a global leader in clean energy. The two leaders visited a wind farm in West Wales, a project bolstered by Welsh Government funding, to underscore their commitment to renewable energy and energy independence.
During their visit, the Prime Minister and First Minister announced their intention to closely collaborate in accelerating the establishment of a publicly owned energy company. This initiative aims to capitalise on the strides already made by the Welsh Government, including the creation of Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, a public entity poised to produce 1 GW of clean energy by 2040—enough to power nearly a million homes in Wales.
“Great British Energy,” the UK Government’s flagship initiative, is at the heart of this mission. With £8.3 billion in new investment allocated over this Parliament, the company is set to play a pivotal role in the nation’s clean energy future. Prime Minister Starmer highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “We have inherited an incoherent energy policy that has left homes vulnerable to rocketing energy bills. But the Welsh Government has made important strides that we can now build on. I am determined that Wales is at the very heart of our mission to make Britain an energy superpower.”
The Prime Minister emphasised that this collaboration with Wales is a “fresh start” under the new Government, marking a reset in relations between the UK and Welsh Governments based on “collaboration and respect.” This partnership is expected to deliver substantial clean energy investments across Wales and the rest of the UK, contributing significantly to the nation’s goal of achieving clean power by 2030.
First Minister Morgan echoed these sentiments, pointing out the Welsh Government’s proactive stance in the energy transition. “While the previous UK Government focused on fracking and fossil fuels, we took positive action to ensure we deliver on our environmental commitments. Harvesting our wind and using it to produce power offers us, and the people of Wales, the ability to own the returns on what will be a significant investment,” Morgan said.
The visit comes as The Crown Estate launches the latest phase of its Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5. This initiative is expected to unlock 1,000 km² of seabed, potentially generating up to 4.5 gigawatts of renewable electricity—enough to power every home in Wales three times over. The Crown Estate projects that these new wind farms could create over 5,000 jobs and inject £1.4 billion into the economy.
The second leg of Prime Minister Starmer’s visit will focus on examining how green investment can power thousands of homes across South West Wales and provide financial benefits to the surrounding communities. The site visit will include meetings with apprentices and workers, highlighting the sector’s role in creating jobs and training the future workforce.
As the UK Government moves swiftly to introduce measures aimed at achieving energy independence, significant steps have already been taken. These include scrapping the ban on onshore wind development, expediting planning decisions for solar farms, and securing a deal with The Crown Estate to build more offshore wind projects.
In the words of Prime Minister Starmer, these actions are designed to ensure that “families and businesses are never left vulnerable again,” paving the way for a future where Britain leads in clean energy, ultimately benefiting the environment, the economy, and the nation’s energy security.
