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Welsh Assembly Criticised Over Solar Power

Posted: 08/05/2006

The Welsh Assembly Government has been criticised for not putting its money where its mouth is on solar power. Earlier this year the WAG seemed to show its support for the technology by promoting the Welsh Opto-electronics Forum's Photovoltaic (PV) Group. Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport, and Energy Minister for Wales launched the group whilst visiting the Sharp Corporation in Wrexham, one of Europe’s leading PV module manufacturing facilities.

Davies said “I am delighted that Wales is home to such prestigious international organisations, such as the Sharp Corporation, which has committed significant investment at its European PV module manufacturing facility in North Wales. The creation of the PV Group, will play a key role in positioning Wales at the forefront of this technology.”

He added: “Wales is also home to the largest type of PV installation of its kind in Europe, at Technium OpTIC at St Asaph. This is a fitting marker to how Wales is leading the research, development and manufacture of PV technology globally as part of the development of our dynamic, knowledge-based economy.”

But Bruce Cross, of installation company PV Systems, is disappointed at the lack of solar installations on the Assembly's own buildings, surely they should be leading by example? He said, "The WAG has had opportunities to put into their requirements that PV should be considered, and to set themselves a target. But they've walked away from it.

"There's a political will, but they haven't got the hard will to say, 'This is what we're going to do.' For all WAG buildings, they could write into their specifications, 10% of energy would be generated within the building, and leave the architects to look at the options."

A WAG spokesman said PV was considered for the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay but a biomass boiler and ground-heat pump system were chosen instead. Trying to get off the hook he quoted the biggest and best known Welsh installation... "We have the largest PV array of its kind in the world at the Assembly Government's Technium OpTIC in North Wales, he said, "and at Bronllys Hospital, near Brecon, 485 PV panels deliver all the hospital's base load electricity requirements."

The PV Group, which comprises Welsh researchers such as Stuart Irvine as well as manufacturers says it intends to work closely with the private and public sectors to secure greater involvement for Wales in the growing, international solar industry, attracting new investment and creating additional quality employment opportunities for Wales.

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