Wales cannot afford to lag behind in race for renewable energy

ON THE eve of RenewableUK Cymru’s Future Energy Wales conference - a key date in the energy sector calendar - there's a sense of change in the air.

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Tomorrow key decision-makers, stakeholders and policymakers will come together to explore how Wales can accelerate major projects and unlock the full potential of clean energy.

How we plan, approve and deliver new infrastructure will shape not just our economy but also our ability to reach net zero. At the heart of this shift is a new planning system and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to harness Wales’ natural resources, such as the Celtic Sea, for floating offshore wind.

Wales’ development of national significance (DNS) process has long overseen large projects, but its complexity has often drawn criticism. It is now being scrapped in favour of a new consenting regime for significant infrastructure projects (SIPs).

From December 15 schemes that qualify will receive a single infrastructure consent (IC) effectively a "one-stop shop" for approvals, replacing the multiple permissions currently required.