Supporting Renewable Energy

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Climate Change – in the Senedd at 2:19 pm on 11 January 2023.

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Photo of Sioned Williams Sioned Williams Plaid Cymru 2:19, 11 January 2023

(Translated)

Thank you, Minister. Given the need to respond to the climate crisis and the need, as we heard from Cefin Campbell, to increase the energy produced locally, it's good to see that these discussions are ongoing. Until we have a public transport system that is fit for purpose and is cheap to use, car parks will be part of the landscape of every town in Wales, I'm sure. But legislation approved last year by the French Parliament makes it a requirement for every car park with a capacity of 80 or more vehicles to have a canopy of solar panels over the site. The Act includes current car parks as well as new ones. By placing solar farms on sites such as this, which are already developed, the aim of the strategy is to solve one of the great challenges of solar power—the need for land, which could threaten agricultural land and greenfield sites. So, Minister, will you look at the feasibility of introducing a similar scheme for solar panels in places such as car parks in Wales, held by public bodies and perhaps private companies too?