Abstract
This report is the result of collaboration between RenewableUK Cymru, Solar Energy UK and Marine Energy Wales. For the first time, it provides a comprehensive picture of the economic and social value of Wales’ renewable energy sector, drawing on data from wind, solar, and tidal stream. Framed through the lens of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, it shows how renewables are not just a route to clean energy— but a foundation for a resilient, fair, and future-focused economy.
Backed by rigorous analysis from BiGGAR Economics, the research reveals that by embracing an ambitious renewables strategy, Wales could deliver:
- 17.9GW of installed renewable capacity.
- £46.9 billion in private investment, with over £10 billion flowing to Welsh businesses.
- Nearly 8,000 skilled, high-paid jobs with salaries 26% higher the Welsh average. In urban and rural communities— in every part of Wales.
- Almost £2 billion in tax revenue to support public services, with onshore wind the highest contributor to local authorities.
- £183 million in direct community benefit funds for local initiatives.
- 13 million tonnes of CO2 emissions saved by 2035– the equivalent of taking almost 10 million cars off the road.
The report models three distinct economic scenarios for Wales’s renewable energy future— Current Targets, Increased Ambition, and Maximising Renewables.