4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the use of renewable energy? OQ57086

Llywydd, we must end our reliance on fossil fuels and shift to clean, renewable energy if we are to meet our climate change goals. Net Zero Wales sets out the actions we will take over the next five years to accelerate the energy transition here in Wales.   

Can I thank the First Minister for his answer, and take the opportunity to mention the new Blue Eden project proposed for Swansea bay by the Bridgend-based firm DST Innovations? As you'll be aware, First Minister, this project has the potential to be very exciting for the people of Swansea, providing clean, green marine energy, and boosting the local economy too. Crucially, unlike the last proposal of a green scheme in Swansea, this will be predominantly privately funded too, and therefore it's likely to be better value for the tax payer as well. We know how important it is for the future of our planet that Wales transitions to this cleaner, greener energy. So, can I ask what steps the Welsh Government is taking to ensure projects like this come to fruition?

Well, Llywydd, I too welcome the DST initiative to revive the idea of marine energy in Swansea. The original Swansea bay tidal lagoon, despite being powerfully endorsed by the former Cabinet Member that the Conservative Party set up to advise them on that, was abandoned by the Conservative Party, and there was nothing at all in last week's budget to give us any sense that the Government was prepared once again to support such innovative and future-orientated schemes of the sort that Swansea has always wanted to take forward. I welcome the latest initiative; I'm glad the Welsh Government has been able to support its development.

We go on, though, Llywydd, supporting a whole range of other possibilities from the HyNet North West cluster that will help with hydrogen production in the way that Adam Price asked in the north of Wales, to the investment that is being made through the Swansea city deal in the Pembroke Dock marina, the infrastructure investments in Pembroke Dock itself, the Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence and the marine energy test area that we will have through the Pembrokeshire demonstration zone. Those are real investments being made jointly by the Welsh Government and the UK Government in that instance. They have the real potential to make Wales a global leader in the production of energy from the sea. We are determined to play our part in it; our local authorities are doing the same. To return to a point I made earlier, Llywydd, none of this will succeed unless the UK Government is provided to work with us on the pathway to genuine commercialisation of these innovative schemes, so that in future, Wales will be able to point the way to provide the renewable energy that is needed not just here in Wales, but right across the globe.