What steps is the Minister taking to reduce the barriers to on-farm, small-scale renewable energy schemes?
The Welsh Government supports renewable and low carbon energy from all technologies and at all scales to meet future energy needs. We have made changes to the planning system so that it provides extensive permitted development rights for renewable energy schemes on domestic and non-domestic properties (including rural enterprises), for solar, wind, and air, ground and water source heat pumps. Permitted development rights are subject to limitations concerning generation capacity, scale, design and impact on local amenity.
Since April 2023 Farming Connect Advisory Service has provided subsidised advice on renewable energy generation proposals targeted at improving the sustainability, economic and environmental performance of individual eligible farm businesses. Advice covers solar (hot water and PV), hydroelectric, wind turbines, anaerobic digestion, heat pumps and biomass.