Unlocking the green economy through innovation, policy and community
Wales is uniquely placed to become a leading force in the global green economy, the Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid roundtable Powering Wales: The Future of Energy and Sustainability, concluded this week.
Leading voices from industry, including the Chamber’s interim CEO Gus Williams, policy, academia, and the third sector came together to explore the strategic actions needed to accelerate Wales’ energy transition. The event was hosted by Chamber partner Acuity Law at its head offices in Cardiff Bay.
The session spotlighted the transformative potential of landmark projects, most notably the multibillion pound Swansea Bay renewables project, which fuse renewable energy generation with advanced technologies such as battery manufacturing, data centres, and private energy networks. This was not just about decarbonisation, concluded the roundtable. It was about building an energy infrastructure that attracts inward investment, anchors high-value jobs, and supports community-led development. The message was clear: the time to act is now.
Key themes and opportunities arising from the roundtable discussion included:
- Integrated, place-based energy innovation
The Swansea project is not just ambitious, it is a gamechanger. By integrating tidal energy with co-located battery manufacturing and digital infrastructure, it proposes a self-contained green energy hub. These private networks could not only bypass grid bottlenecks but also support localised decarbonisation and economic regeneration. The project includes ambitions for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and hydrogen development, further accelerating Wales’ progress towards net zero.
This modular, localised approach has international appeal too. It presents an exportable model, one that could be replicated in regions such as Dubai, where similar issues around energy reliability and sustainability are top of the agenda.
- Unlocking private networks and energy clusters
Private energy networks are increasingly being recognised as practical, scalable solutions to overcome the inertia in traditional grid systems. These networks can serve energy-intensive industries, stimulate innovation ecosystems, and help decarbonise hard-to-reach sectors. Stakeholders called for an increased focus on enabling regulatory and contractual frameworks to support these models.
- Strategy, policy, and leadership gaps
Despite the enthusiasm and capability across Wales, progress is being stymied by policy fragmentation, regulatory complexity, and a lack of high-level executive leadership.
Participants expressed frustration that energy decisions are often delayed or diluted by overlapping responsibilities between the UK and Welsh Governments. Clear, coordinated policy direction is essential to give investors confidence and fast-track shovel-ready projects.
- Embedding community ownership and social benefit
Community buy-in is crucial. Discussions highlighted the success of community energy schemes in Scotland, and the potential for similar initiatives in Wales, particularly around wind and solar generation. Participants noted that embedding shared ownership early in project planning can enhance public support, spread economic benefits locally, and provide a stronger social licence to operate.
- Skills, training, and just transition
The net zero transition must also be a just transition. There is a growing gap between the green jobs being created and the skills currently available in the Welsh labour market. This includes everything from specialist roles in solar, battery and hydrogen tech to broader needs like logistics, maintenance, and project management. Education providers and training agencies need to align quickly, and government should act to coordinate funding, curriculum and pathways into these sectors.
- Infrastructure, exports, and energy sovereignty
Wales is already a net energy exporter, particularly in wind power, but the infrastructure needed to turn this into a long-term economic advantage is lacking. Upgrades to north-south energy connectivity, investment in energy storage, and better use of port and rail infrastructure are seen as critical enablers. At the same time, participants stressed the need to retain value locally by embedding supply chains and manufacturing capabilities within Wales rather than outsourcing offshore.
The roundtable concluded with a strong consensus: Wales has the resources, talent, and ambition to lead in renewable energy. What it lacks is urgency and cohesion. There is now a critical window to align planning, regulation, and investment around a shared vision for Wales as a clean energy leader.
By embracing innovation, unlocking local ownership models, and building strategic partnerships between public and private sectors, Wales can make the energy transition not just a climate imperative, but a national economic opportunity.
