£10m to support community-led energy projects across Wales
NEW funding is now available to support organisations across Wales to develop Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES), helping ensure the benefits of energy generation are retained and felt in local communities.
The £10m Ynni Cymru capital grants scheme forms a key part of Wales' ambitious goal to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035.
It provides financial support to community energy organisations, social enterprises, public sector bodies, and SMEs developing innovative local energy projects.
The grant scheme builds on the work of Ynni Cymru, established by the Welsh Government in 2023, to promote community ownership of renewable energy and drive Wales' transition to a low-carbon economy.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: 'This £10 million investment shows our continued commitment to putting communities at the heart of Wales' clean energy transition.
'Smart Local Energy Systems are not just about decarbonising our energy supply – they are about lower energy costs, local job creation, and more resilient energy infrastructure for local communities.
'I am really pleased to open applications for the next funding round and want to encourage organisations across Wales to bring forward their innovative proposals.'
The scheme's impact can be seen at Holywell Town Football Club in Flintshire where, thanks to funding during the last round, the club has transformed its energy infrastructure.
The grant allowed the club to add roof-mounted solar PV panels, battery storage, air source heat pumps, EV charging points, smart LED floodlights, and an intelligent energy management system.
This integrated approach means it expects an 80% reduction in annual energy costs – savings that are being reinvested into grassroots sport and community initiatives.
Director of Holywell Town Football Club 1947 Ltd, Tracey Jones, said:
'We have built a strong foundation and legacy that is supporting local people within the local and wider area of Holywell and are grateful for the fund's support towards our long-term sustainability.
'While this phase concludes, the club's journey continues. We look forward to building on this momentum, expanding our reach, and ensuring the club remains a lasting asset for the community.
'Our expected reduction in annual energy costs also allows us to further support grassroots sport and initiatives. We currently have 155 boys from ages 6-17 playing within the club, have a new Females team with us for the new season ahead, and have a strong relationship with Achieve More Training delivering engagement programs and qualifications at the ground of our football club – reaching out to deliver alternate provision through 'Goodwood' which is based within our football club.'
The Energy Secretary added: 'The success we have already seen from previous recipients is helping gain invaluable insights into the scale of benefits that can be secured for communities, which will help Ynni Cymru refine and expand systems to maximise their impact across Wales.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Government makes driveway law change set to affect millions
No more planning applications are needed for EV charging point installations as the government cuts red tape. Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, announced drivers and businesses will no longer need to submit a planning application to install public or private EV sockets. EV owners will be able to unlock savings of up to £1,100 a year compared to running a petrol or diesel car. 🇬🇧 Great to visit @astonmartin yesterday — where British engineering meets world-class innovation. 🚗 Took the DBX707 for a spin 🌍 UK trade deals with 🇺🇸 🇪🇺 🇮🇳 to safeguard 150,000 jobs in auto & steel 🔋 £2.3bn Govt boost to power the switch to EVs The planning changes also apply to workplace and public chargepoints, meaning businesses will be able to install new sockets faster and for less money, increasing the number of public chargepoints. Ms Greenwood said: "We're cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution, so that drivers, businesses and those looking to make the switch will have more chargepoints to power from, and less red tape to deal with." Vicky Edmonds, chief executive of EVA England, said: "Making it easier to install both public and private charging infrastructure is essential to helping more drivers switch to electric." She warned "further action is needed" as "drivers without driveways still face barriers to affordable, convenient charging". Recommended reading: She added: "We urge the Government to increase its support of the rollout of cross-pavement charging and extend legal rights to tenants and leaseholders, so all drivers can access and benefit from cheaper and more convenient charging." Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, believes "removing the planning rules" will help "accelerate installations". He further added: "The crucial element is ensuring grid connection in a timely manner. This is especially important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking." Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at consumer group Which? said it is "an important step in the right direction".
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
State Pension's future under review amid retirement shake-up
The State Pension is facing a dramatic overhaul under a Government shake-up of retirement rules. The changes could see millions of future retirees having to wait longer to claim and receiving different levels of payment. Ministers have launched a wide-ranging review of the entire pension framework – looking at when people should be entitled to receive the state pension, how much they should get, and whether the current system is financially sustainable for the long term. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that the second phase of its Pensions Review will examine 'the balance of all three pillars of the UK system – state, occupational and personal wealth'. It is expected to ask fundamental questions about how these components should work together to ensure a financially secure retirement for everyone. Full details and the panel leading the review are yet to be published. The review comes at a time of growing concern that the triple-lock guarantee – which ensures the state pension rises every year in line with wages, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is highest – is pushing up pension payments at an unsustainable rate. Rachel Vahey, head of public policy at AJ Bell, said: 'Pensions minister Torsten Bell recently ruled out scrapping the triple-lock guarantee, but as the state pension grows ever closer to the frozen personal allowance threshold it could be that the Government is finally forced to address the question of how much the state pension should really offer, at what age, and how it can increase payments sustainably each year.' The announcement comes hot on the heels of a new Pension Schemes Bill, which lays the groundwork for major changes, including the creation of massive collective investment funds – dubbed 'megafunds' – to deliver better returns for savers. Ms Vahey said the review could be the most significant shake-up since the Turner Review 20 years ago, which brought in automatic workplace pension enrolment and transformed saving habits in the UK. 'It's now 20 years since the Turner Review was published,' she said. 'That comprehensive look at the UK's retirement system ushered in a new regime for pensions, resulting in the introduction of landmark automatic enrolment reforms which changed pension saving in the UK forever.' Those reforms have seen more than 11 million people newly enrolled in workplace pensions since 2012, bringing the total number of active savers to around 20 million. But experts warn that while the number of savers has surged, many still aren't putting enough aside for a comfortable retirement. Ms Vahey said: 'Not enough people are saving enough money for their later life, and although automatic enrolment has gone a long way to create millions of new pension savers, instead of resting on our laurels we now need to take a good look at whether they are saving a sufficient amount of money to realise their retirement ambitions.' The review is also expected to probe the interaction between the state pension and private savings – including personal assets – raising questions about whether those with higher wealth might ultimately be expected to rely less on the state. Ms Vahey added: 'While details of this new Pension Review are thin on the ground at this stage, it has the potential to be as significant and could have far-reaching implications for people saving for their retirement.' Campaigners are urging the Government to set out full terms of the review as soon as possible to give millions of savers clarity on what's coming. Ms Vahey said: 'The Government now needs to clearly set out the terms of this review as soon as possible to give savers and the industry certainty over its plans.'
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Chester-le-Street's post office temporarily saved from closure
A high street post office, which is one of only a handful to feature the cypher of Edward VIII, has been temporarily saved from Front Street branch in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was among 115 to be put at risk as part of a business restructure. The Post Office has now confirmed the branch will be taken over by franchisee Richard Fleetwood who already runs sites in Newcastle, Hebburn and Washington. It said the branch would continue to operate on the same site until "long-term arrangements" were finalised. North Durham Labour MP Luke Akehurst said he had been told any move to a new location was unlikely to happen before spring 2026 and this would be subject to a local public previously said the building, which dates back to 1936, holds "historical significance" due to its links with the king who was never crowned and who abdicated later that year to marry Wallis shake-up of the Post Office's branch network was revealed by the company's chairman Nigel Railton in government-owned business has 11,500 branches across the most sites are franchises, 108 of them are currently owned directly by the was feared some branches would be permanently shut but in April the firm announced the sites would be taken over by franchisees subject to government funding. Other Crown Post Offices being taken over by Mr Fleetwood in north-east England include branches in South Shields and Sunderland.
