Wales Streamlines Approval for Solar Farms Below 50 MW

Wales is taking significant steps to speed up its renewable energy development by removing the need for ministerial approval for smaller solar farms under 50 megawatts.

Instead, applications for these projects will be handled by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), which is expected to cut decision-making times by over three months.

This policy shift was announced by Rebecca Evans, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy, and Planning, at the Future Energy Wales conference. Evans emphasized that the change would help unlock billions of pounds in clean energy investments, driving Wales toward its renewable energy goals.

Supporting this move, a new analysis reveals that Wales could secure up to £46.8 billion in renewable energy investments by 2035, with solar power expected to play a central role. With its current solar capacity at 1GW, Wales aims to expand this to 5GW by 2030 and 8GW by 2035.

Chris Hewett, Chief Executive Officer of Solar Energy UK, praised the decision, calling it a "real tonic" for the sector. He highlighted that faster planning approvals would not only accelerate decarbonisation but also reduce Wales' reliance on imported gas and lower energy bills.

Cabinet Secretary Evans reaffirmed the Welsh Government’s unwavering commitment to renewable energy, stating, “By working together with communities, developers, and stakeholders, we can and will achieve our renewable energy targets, boost our economy and support our shared ambition for clean power by 2030.”