WQ83652 (e) Wedi’i gyflwyno ar 20/10/2021

A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi dadansoddiad o'r swyddi a grëwyd gan fuddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru o £110 miliwn mewn 11 prosiect ynni morol yn y pumed Senedd?

Wedi'i ateb gan Gweinidog yr Economi | Wedi'i ateb ar 27/10/2021

Within the current 2014-2020 European Structural Funds programme £111m European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) via the Welsh Government have been allocated to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Schemes, including over £74m supporting 12 Marine Energy projects. In addition, research projects such as the Swansea city-deal funded MEECE project are developing the sector in Wales.

Tide and Wave technology in Wales is reaching a testing phase and getting closer to commercialisation where benefits can be realised including job creation in the supply chain, including highly skilled jobs in the development of different technology devices, manufacturing, operation and maintenance. A target for jobs created is not specific for the ERDF at this stage of the marine technology development phase. A number of highly skilled jobs such as engineering jobs have been created in the projects that have been supported but it is the post-investment jobs that will bring about the economic benefits to regions in Wales that the investment and Welsh Government is working towards. 

The funding aims to increase the attractiveness of Welsh marine energy by making an area more attractive to private investors. Funding has specifically concentrated in West and North Wales regions and the impact of making this investment now through public support will materialise beyond this investment period. The construction and testing of devices and preparation of infrastructure are steps towards encouraging further sector investment that will enable the supply chain to grow and with it create higher-skilled jobs in Wales.

These higher-skilled jobs will be created in the future as a result of the Welsh Government putting Wales at the heart of global zero carbon marine energy innovation, an objective shared by the Swansea Bay City deal and North Wales Growth Deal, whom have an economic interest in a number of projects.

The projects are at various stages of development, with some working through consent and design, and others, constructing and deploying. The expenditure on these innovative projects will continue well into 2023 but has already demonstrated an investment pull as some technology developers have relocated to Wales from other areas of the UK and overseas as a result of the Welsh funding.