1. Will the Minister provide an update on the assistance available for water energy projects? OAQ54241

Diolch. The Welsh Government continues to provide technical support and funding for community and public sector energy projects, both onshore and offshore, through the Welsh Government energy service. Five local authorities and 12 community groups have received support for hydropower and water source heat schemes from our Welsh Government energy service.

Thank you very much. As your Government declared the climate emergency and a desire to take action in this area, the people of Wales are looking for proof that those aren't just empty words. And, as you know, I've raised the issue of rate relief for hydro energy projects in this Chamber previously, and Plaid Cymru has so far managed to convince you to continue with this relief until March of next year. What isn’t clear is what will happen after March of next year, and that creates uncertainty for community energy projects, such as Ynni Ogwen in my own constituency. So, can you, as part of your commitment to tackle climate change, give us an assurance today that you will scrap taxes on these community hydro schemes, and do so permanently?

Well, I can assure the Member, and everyone across Wales, that it didn't take Plaid Cymru to persuade me. We provide 100 per cent rate relief for community hydropower schemes, as you know, and that rate support is also available to other hydropower projects with a rateable value below £50,000. I'm very aware of Ynni Ogwen, which is an excellent scheme in your constituency, which I've visited. You will be aware that we don't know what our budget is for next year yet. We have no idea from the UK Government, but clearly it is an area where I feel we did need to have that support for hydropower schemes. I'm very keen that—. As part of the climate emergency, obviously, renewable energy is a huge part of us achieving our climate targets. So, I'm going to continue to ensure that renewable energy is absolutely part of our vision for a more sustainable future here in Wales. 

Minister, you'll be fully aware that, off the coast of Pembrokeshire, there is huge potential to produce wave and tidal energy, especially given the tidal streams in and around Ramsey Sound. Now, the Welsh Government strategy, 'A Low Carbon Wales', states that Wales is well placed to take advantage of the opportunities associated with the blue economy, including wave and tidal energy. And, of course, the Government received consenting powers in April of this year for onshore and offshore projects up to 350 MW. However, the strategy contains generic policies, such as implementing energy consenting, planning and permitting policy, and developing routes to market for renewable technologies, but doesn't give any detailed information how the Government will actually implement these policies and what support is actually available. In the circumstances, can you outline the specific support the Welsh Government are able to provide potential energy producers who could actually be operating off the coast of Pembrokeshire?

As the Member knows, we do have two of the largest zones for demonstrating wave and tidal stream arrays, and one is in Pembrokeshire, as you'll be aware. You are right; we have had extra consenting powers through the Wales Act. Just last week, the First Minister and I met Natural Resources Wales to talk about licensing and regulation in relation to wave and tidal. And I'm very keen that the Welsh energy service continues to support organisations looking to bring much more of this type of renewable energy in. You wouldn't expect to see how we would get there in the low-carbon delivery plan. One of the things we are doing in light of the climate emergency declaration is going back to ensure that those plans, policies and proposals that are outlined in the low-carbon delivery plan are the correct ones to ensure that we do meet our climate change targets. 

We know that all rivers flow downhill and they all flow down to the sea across the land surface. And we also know this can be converted into electricity by either building dams across the river, and then releasing the water, or by using the river current to generate electricity. We know this is done across the world—USA, China, Russia, across South America. Does the Welsh Government have any plans to do this across south Wales? 

Hydropower schemes can be very complex, and they need to be designed and managed very carefully to avoid unacceptable impacts on communities and river environment. There are implications for our rivers, and, in fact, I think, at the moment, you will see more barriers being taken out of rivers than dams being installed. Again, I will mention the Welsh Government energy service. We're very keen to ensure that we support a range of Wales-owned projects. Many of Wales's largest dam systems do utilise hydropower to harness the power of water. We've got Llyn Brianne, for instance, and also the Elan valley. Unfortunately, I think because of the geography of Wales, there are now very few remaining large-scale opportunities for hydropower to make a major contribution to our energy supply, but I'm certainly very keen to hear of any specific projects.

Minister, now that the UK Government have shelved the Swansea tidal lagoon, what consideration has your Government given to looking at alternative, smaller-scale proof-of-concept schemes? A tidal lagoon could assist with the decarbonisation of the Port Talbot steelworks. Has your Government discussed this possibility with Tata?

I'm due to visit Tata later this month, and if they want to discuss that with me, I'd be very happy to do so. I know there are ongoing discussions with the Swansea bay city region group as well, in relation to dragon island—some opportunities they've come forward with there, which I understand Welsh Government are currently considering.