Wales launches publicly-owned renewable energy company

Ynni Cymru will be based at M-SParc in Anglesey. It is charged with one mission: helping Wales reach its goal to have all its electricity provided by renewable sources by 2035.

The Welsh government is currently advertising for the first nine positions at Ynni Cymru, with the idea that it will grow to 12 full-time staff shortly thereafter.

Ynni Cymru will be publicly owned and assist in giving local renewable energy projects a boost. Already £750,000 has been given out in its name to 11 different projects.

These include Ynni Ogwen’s proposal to install solar panels on community and business buildings in Dyffryn Ogwen and Ynni Twrog’s push to establish heat networks in Gwynedd.

Also on Ynni Cymru’s list of North West projects: Ynni Newydd Cyfyngedig’s solar farm at Bretton Hall in Flintshire – set to be one of the largest community-owned solar farms in the country.

Welsh climate change minister Julie James described the need for a company like Ynni Cymru.

“The current market-based approach to the energy system is not delivering decarbonisation at the scale or pace necessary for the climate emergency and has not been retaining sufficient benefit in Wales,” she said.

“Local use of locally generated energy is an effective way to support net-zero and keep the benefit in our communities,” she continued.

“Ynni Cymru will complement the great work already being undertaken by the Welsh Government Energy Service and Community Energy Wales, especially around scaling up and increasing the impact of renewable energy assets across Wales.
Ynni Cymru was born out of the Welsh government’s co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru.

Plaid Cymru designated member Siân Gwenllian described the energy company as “an ambitious project”.

“How we produce and consume energy is an essential part of achieving net zero and establishing Ynni Cymru is a key development in our ambitions,” she said.

“We also know that whoever owns energy assets is hugely important,” she continued.

“Ynni Cymru’s investment in expanding community-owned renewable energy generation will help decarbonise our energy supply with sustainable green energy and directly benefit people who live in those communities.”

Ynni Cymru’s new home, M-SParc, has positioned itself as a leader in innovations surrounding sustainability. The science park, run by Bangor University, received £2.5m for an expansion earlier this summer.