We’re supporting record investment in Welsh community energy projects
How we’re playing a role in community energy projects across Wales
Salix is playing a key role in supporting the delivery of substantial public investment in community energy projects, helping to unlock locally owned clean energy across Wales and drive long-term savings for public services and communities.
Working with the Welsh Government, Salix is supporting the delivery of a proportion of the Great British Energy funding into a wide range of community and public sector energy projects. These projects are helping schools, museums, councils and community organisations cut energy costs, reduce carbon emissions and reinvest savings back into local services.
Great British Energy and the UK Government published the Local Power Plan this week to help support locally owned clean energy generation projects such as solar on community buildings like libraries, leisure centres and working men's clubs.
Across Wales, we are supporting projects ranging from rooftop solar installations on schools in Wrexham and Newport to new solar developments announced at the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Pontypool.
The Big Pit project is expected to save more than £280,000 in energy costs over its lifetime, helping protect a nationally significant heritage site while reducing running costs. Salix is supporting the Welsh Government in delivering this project.
Further projects include a new solar installation at the Quays campus in Neath Port Talbot, which is forecast to deliver estimated lifetime savings of more than £910,000 for the local authority, demonstrating the scale of financial and environmental benefits being achieved through locally delivered clean energy.
Some of this investment is being delivered through the Wales Funding Programme, administered by our teams at Salix on behalf of the Welsh Government. The programme supports public sector organisations to decarbonise their buildings through measures such as solar photovoltaics, energy efficiency upgrades and low-carbon technologies.
By supporting Welsh Government across multiple programmes, we’re helping ensure that investment in community and public sector energy is translated into practical, deliverable projects that reduce costs, cut emissions and build long-term community wealth.
Investing in renewable energy means investing in Wales’ future. With Salix supporting the Welsh Government across several programmes, we are empowering communities and public sector organisations to deliver sustainable projects that create clean energy, reduce costs and build a stronger, greener Wales for all.
Kevin Holland, Chief Executive of Salix Finance, said: “Investing in renewable energy means investing in Wales’ future. With Salix supporting the Welsh Government across several programmes, we are empowering communities and public sector organisations to deliver sustainable projects that create clean energy, reduce costs and build a stronger, greener Wales for all.”
Our work in Wales forms part of its wider mission to help the public sector achieve net zero through targeted funding, expert delivery and practical support, ensuring that the benefits of clean energy investment are felt directly by communities across the country.
UK Government published the Local Power Plan on Tuesday 10 February. They say it delivers the biggest public investment in community energy in this country’s history and is a transformative strategy to unleash the untapped resources of local communities.
Read more about the Local Power Plan here.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “This transformative plan means that communities in every part of Wales can take charge of their own energy supplies, helping to cut bills and providing a valuable source of revenue.
“The UK Government is working with the Welsh Government to make sure everyone in Wales benefits from the revolution in clean energy, whether that’s through creating jobs in the growing clean energy sector or investing in shared community energy projects.”
