Grayling’s Planning & Infrastructure team, Ross McWilliams and Sian Jones, attended Renewable UK Cymru’s Future Energy Wales 2024 in Newport earlier this week.

Here are their key takeaways from the event.

Renewed optimism for new sector deals

There was a positive atmosphere with increased optimism that the Welsh Government’s renewed focus on establishing sector deals under the new First Minister, Eluned Morgan, will generate greater confidence for new entrants into the market.

Improved collaboration between governments:

Clear effort to reset relationships between HM Government and Welsh Government on energy, which in recent years has been increasingly fraught. Relationship developing between Michael Shank MP and Rebecca Evans MS was interesting to see play out on stage during their joint discussion, which included nods toward greater cooperation between Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru and GB Energy.

Addressing concerns about energy extraction

Ensuring that concerns around so-called ‘extraction’ (whereby energy is generated in Wales for the benefit of England) and broader scepticism on the pace of decarbonisation are respected and understood in the broader political context, which is a likely shift in the USA toward a more blended energy mix for longer.

The politicisation of energy leading up to Senedd 2026

Reform UK held its conference in the ICC shortly before the Future Energy Wales conference and the proliferation of new news media in America may see energy become an increasingly politicised issue ahead of the Senedd elections in 2026. Important for in-principle arguments for renewables energy projects to be made transparently and credible to maintain political ‘licence to operate’ amongst public, who are generally positive about greener energy.

Grayling’s commitment to the UK’s energy transition

Grayling’s dedicated Planning & Infrastructure team is committed to supporting the UK’s energy transition and we enjoyed meeting developers, suppliers and consultants, who all share a passion and interest in the renewables industry.

We look forward to continue to support major projects across the country, including in Wales, and please do contact planning&infrastructure@grayling.com if you require project-specific comms and engagement support or broader national public affairs support.