Introduction
The Offshore Energy Alliance (OEA) cluster geography stretches across the North West of UK from Cumbria to North Wales, with Merseyside at the core of the OEA region. The OEA is supported in North Wales by M-SParc who act as the accountable body for the cluster and industry partners RWE, EnBW/BP, Menter Mon, Ambition North Wales and the Welsh Government.
North Wales covers six local authorities; Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham which work strategically together to deliver benefits for the North Wales Region.
Team North Wales
The Welsh Government, Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Wrexham and Flintshire local authorities along with Ambition North Wales, academia and communities have developed a single, joined-up vision for economic and employment growth for North Wales. It will be delivered through collaboration and partnership working, with strong private sector involvement and a “Team North Wales” approach, building close economic relationships with neighbouring areas.
The Regional Economic Framework illustrates the collaboration across stakeholders in north Wales and borders, this has been endorsed by them. The vision is to develop a confident, cohesive region with sustainable economic growth, capitalising on the success of high value economic sectors and our connection to the economies of the MDA, Northern Powerhouse and Ireland.
The region will be positioned as one of the leading UK locations for energy generation and energy related supply chain investment, with expertise in low carbon technologies and processes. It will capitalise on the strong network of anchor companies with an international profile to build a high value manufacturing cluster – one which will be highly competitive on a global stage and have transferable skill sets to enable people to move around high value manufacturing sectors in the region.
North Wales will capitalise on the opportunities created by significant private sector investment most notably offshore renewables, hydrogen, nuclear power and medical isotopes, civil defence and space, opto-electronics, food production and packaging.
Net Zero Ambition
The North Wales Energy Strategy has been co-developed by Ambition North Wales and Welsh Government, with support from the Welsh Government Energy Service.
In March 2021, the Ambition Board and Welsh Government’s Minister for Climate Change endorsed the North Wales Energy Strategy and confirmed support for developing the Action Plan. The Strategy was also endorsed by Welsh Government’s Minister for Climate Change. The North Wales Energy Strategy identifies key priorities and opportunities to deliver on the region’s ambition for decarbonising its energy system. The Strategy sets out the following vision for North Wales:
‘Delivering maximum local economic, social, ecological and wellbeing benefits from transitioning to a net zero economy and becoming a net exporter of low carbon electricity through cross-border and regional cooperation’.
The priorities for achieving the vision are:
- To harness the abundance of local low carbon resource to become a green powerhouse and diversify the energy mix.
- To become a world-leader in offshore wind and marine technologies.
- To improve the energy efficiency of the region’s housing and accelerate the decarbonisation of North Wales’ building stock.
- To achieve a shift to lower carbon transport.
The development of the Action Plan is the next stage of the regional energy planning process and is directed at translating priorities into strategic actions and interventions. The Action Plan presents strategic actions generated from four thematic workshops held with a cross-section of sectoral stakeholders from across the region. The strategic actions have been mapped against the priorities outlined in the Energy Strategy. Where actions contribute across multiple priorities, they have been defined as cross-cutting actions. Lead organisations, enabling organisations, indicative timescales, funding status and progress status have been specified against each strategic action.
The Strategy and Action Plan provide the strategic context for the development of more detailed Local Area Energy Plans in each Local Authority Area. More information can be found at https://gov.wales/regional-energy-strategy-north-wales
Key Projects RWE
- Gwynt Y Mor / Awel Y Mor
- Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm
- EnBW/BP – Mona & Morgan
- Menter Mon – Morlais
Key partners
M-SParc
Menai Science Park (M-SParc), Wales’ first dedicated science park, opened in 2018 and was established to drive innovation forward and provide economic growth. From clubs and workshops for children and schools, talks and conferences for businesses, to developing new and innovative solutions for problems we all face every day, there is no such thing as standing still at M-SParc!
M-SParc’s our objective is to “Ignite the economy, inspire the people & innovate for the environment; all for a sustainable Wales.”
We have a dedicated innovation team focusing on key strategic areas including digital, agri-tech, life sciences and low carbon. The low carbon innovation team was established to support the ever-increasing demand for low carbon support from developing and promoting supply chain opportunities in North Wales associated with large new developments in nuclear, marine, wind, solar and hydrogen to supporting businesses within our ecosystem understand their carbon footprint and how to reduce it as well as working to become Net Zero by 2030 ourselves!
Welsh Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government for Wales. Led by the First Minister, it works across devolved areas that include key areas of public life such as health, education and the environment.
The Welsh Government is supporting the formalisation of the offshore energy alliance and has assisted by providing financial support to M-SParc as the accountable body.
NORTH WALES REGIONAL ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK
North Wales has always had a strong collaborative approach and building on this provides a strong basis for this region. Continuing in this spirit, the Welsh Government and its regional partners have established a shared vision through a Regional Economic Framework (REF).
The REF is founded on the principle that places matter, and will seek to make real the ambition of delivering better jobs closer to home and raising prosperity for all and grasping opportunities where it can to improve social value.
It will tackle inherent structural challenges, but be responsive by turning them into opportunities for the dynamic and distinct region, which demonstrate inclusive, fair and sustainable economic growth by designing solutions for the future.
The REF will set out not just what we must do, but how we must do it. The focus will not only on the decisions we must make, but the ways in which we must go about making them. It will set out the roles and responsibilities we all have to play if our future vision for the economy is to be realised. Regional economic frameworks | GOV.WALES
Relevant Welsh Government Policy · Circular Economy Package policy statement – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Marine planning | GOV.WALESPlanning policy Wales | GOV.WALES
The North Wales coast is a prime location to take advantage of growing demand for low-carbon energy production and the OEA will ensure that local businesses can make the most of these opportunities. It will help build on existing capabilities to further develop local SMEs, skills and innovation institutions across the region.
Marine Energy Wales
Marine Energy Wales brings together technology developers, the supply chain, academia and the public sector to establish Wales as a global leader in sustainable marine energy generation, making a significant contribution to a low carbon economy.
The benefits of this industry are being felt throughout the country with the creation of green sustainable jobs, growth and skills providing significant development opportunities for Wales.
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult is the UK’s leading technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy. We will play a key role in delivering the UK’s net zero targets by accelerating the creation and growth of UK companies in the offshore renewable energy sector. We use our unique facilities and research and engineering capabilities to bring together industry and academia and drive innovation in renewable energy.
The Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence is ORE Catapult’s flagship hub for advancing the Welsh marine and offshore renewable energy sectors. We are a catalyst for research, technology innovation and testing and demonstration to accelerate the commercialisation of the wave, tidal and
offshore wind sectors by reducing the cost of energy, improving efficiency and reliability, and supporting the growth of the Welsh supply chain.
A multi-million-pound collaboration between ORE Catapult and four Welsh Universities: Swansea University, Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Bangor University, the Centre is based at Pembroke Dock, with an office on Anglesey, and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Swansea Bay City Deal. It is part of the £60-million-pound Pembroke Dock Marine Project. Working alongside the Marine Energy Test Area (META), the Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire Demonstration Zone, local universities and the local supply chain, the Centre offers unique facilities and capabilities to the Welsh marine energy sector. More detail available at: ORE MEECE
Ambition North Wales
Ambition North Wales is a partnership which includes the six local authority areas of North Wales, two universities: Bangor University located in North-West Wales and Wrexham Glyndŵr University in North-East Wales and two further education institutions: Grŵp Llandrillo Menai which has sites across North-West Wales and Coleg Cambria which has sites in North-East Wales.
The ambition is “to be confident and cohesive, focused on improving the region’s economic, social and environmental well-being.”
Ambition North Wales wants to see the region develop in a sustainable way, with opportunities for people to gain new skills for the future and develop rewarding careers. They want to see businesses grow and communities prosper.
Ambition North Wales are leading on the North Wales Growth Deal which is an over £1 billion investment across 5 key programmes: Agri-food and Tourism, Digital Connectivity, Innovation in High Value Manufacturing Land and Property and Low Carbon Energy.
Menter Mon
Menter Môn collaborates with businesses, communities, public sector and individuals to deliver meaningful and innovative projects. They take a long term community based perspective and providing sustainable growth solutions to create and maximise opportunities across five main areas:
- Conservation and Environment
- Agriculture and Food
- Prosperous Communities
- Renewable Energy
- Technology and Business
Menter Mon are also leading on the Morlais and Holyhead Hydrogen Hub projects on Anglesey.
Skills
Introduction
North Wales covers six local authorities; Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham which work strategically together to deliver benefits for the North Wales Region.
The North Wales Regional Skills Partnership bring together employers, skills providers and key local stakeholders to better articulate skills demand and challenges at a regional and local level. The partnership works to identify current and future regional skills needs, and uses this intelligence to ensure the most suitable and relevant provision is available for our future generations!
Regional Skills and Employment Plan 2019-2022
The aim of the plan is to get the North Wales skills system working harder and smarter to meet jobs, now and in the future. Underpinning our Skills and Employment Plan are three overarching skills priorities that are required to support sector growth in the economy. The priorities were drawn together by our extensive evidence base on regional needs, consultation feedback from a wide range of employers, providers and key stakeholders.
Priority 1: Building our workforce and attracting talent
Priority 2: Skills development for an inclusive North Wales
Priority 3: Promote career perception, pathways and apprenticeship opportunities
The RSP, Welsh Government and M-SParc are now working on a Low Carbon Skills Action Plan to identify the skills need for the low carbon sector across North Wales as a range of large infrastructure projects are established in the region.
