Wales is a net exporter of electricity, meaning that as well as generating electricity for homes and businesses in Wales, it also generates electricity which is distributed across Great Britain. Wales generates over 7% of the UK’s renewable electricity, making an important contribution to the UK's low-carbon energy supply.
Although the Government has announced a moratorium on new low carbon subsidies, this does not include £557 million of funding which has already been committed to renewable energy. The Committee will be looking at how this money can best be spent, and what opportunities the funding presents for Wales.
Wales has been identified as a prime location for the deployment of tidal technology, and although the Government’s decision not to support Swansea Bay tidal lagoon has raised questions about the likelihood of the UK Government supporting tidal lagoon projects, the Committee will investigate the viability of deploying tidal technology in Wales, alongside already prevalent technologies like solar, wind and biomass.