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| Pledge on green energy ambitions | Pledge on green energy ambitions |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The assembly government is expected to say that Wales has the potential to generate twice its electricity needs from renewable sources within 15 years. | The assembly government is expected to say that Wales has the potential to generate twice its electricity needs from renewable sources within 15 years. |
| Environment Minister Jane Davidson will make a statement on energy later. | Environment Minister Jane Davidson will make a statement on energy later. |
| The assembly has previously set a target of seven terawatt-hours (TWh) of green energy by 2020, but Ms Davidson will say the potential is far greater. | The assembly has previously set a target of seven terawatt-hours (TWh) of green energy by 2020, but Ms Davidson will say the potential is far greater. |
| Environmental campaigners have said the assembly government is being "unrealistic and over ambitious". | Environmental campaigners have said the assembly government is being "unrealistic and over ambitious". |
| The assembly government began consultation on its so-called Renewable Energy Route Map in 2008 as part of the coalition One Wales agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru. | The assembly government began consultation on its so-called Renewable Energy Route Map in 2008 as part of the coalition One Wales agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru. |
| Monday's announcement will set out how it intends to deliver a low carbon energy policy. | Monday's announcement will set out how it intends to deliver a low carbon energy policy. |
| Ministers initially had set themselves the target of producing 4TWh of electricity from renewable resources such as wind and wave power by 2010, and 7TWh by 2020. | Ministers initially had set themselves the target of producing 4TWh of electricity from renewable resources such as wind and wave power by 2010, and 7TWh by 2020. |
| A terawatt hour is equivalent to one billion kilowatt hours and is commonly used to express the energy production and consumption of businesses and countries. | A terawatt hour is equivalent to one billion kilowatt hours and is commonly used to express the energy production and consumption of businesses and countries. |
| In a written answer to a question last month, Ms Davidson confirmed that at present Wales was only hitting the 3TWh mark. | In a written answer to a question last month, Ms Davidson confirmed that at present Wales was only hitting the 3TWh mark. |
| The biggest obstacle currently is that permission for generating more than 50 megawatts, through a wind farm, for example, lies with Westminster Gordon James, president of Friends of the Earth Cymru | The biggest obstacle currently is that permission for generating more than 50 megawatts, through a wind farm, for example, lies with Westminster Gordon James, president of Friends of the Earth Cymru |
| However, she added: "There is considerable interest from developers in relation to the spectrum of new technologies including biomass, onshore and offshore wind, wave and tidal. | However, she added: "There is considerable interest from developers in relation to the spectrum of new technologies including biomass, onshore and offshore wind, wave and tidal. |
| "I am confident that considerable additional capacity will come on line over the coming years to significantly exceed the 2020 7TWh target." | "I am confident that considerable additional capacity will come on line over the coming years to significantly exceed the 2020 7TWh target." |
| But Monday's announcement could go much further. | But Monday's announcement could go much further. |
| Cutting carbon | Cutting carbon |
| The environment minister is expected to say that Wales has the potential to generate twice its electricity needs from renewable sources before 2025. | The environment minister is expected to say that Wales has the potential to generate twice its electricity needs from renewable sources before 2025. |
| At present, Wales uses around 24TWh of electricity a year, from a mix of fossil, nuclear and green methods. | At present, Wales uses around 24TWh of electricity a year, from a mix of fossil, nuclear and green methods. |
| Climate change experts have been quick to point out that any claims that Wales could produce double the electricity it needs from renewable means would mean a massive jump. | Climate change experts have been quick to point out that any claims that Wales could produce double the electricity it needs from renewable means would mean a massive jump. |
| Gordon James, president of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said producing 48TWh of electricity from renewable sources was "unrealistic and over ambitious". | Gordon James, president of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said producing 48TWh of electricity from renewable sources was "unrealistic and over ambitious". |
| He said: "A goal of generating all of Wales' electricity from renewable sources by 2025 would be much more achievable and would be a big step forward and a tremendous achievement. | He said: "A goal of generating all of Wales' electricity from renewable sources by 2025 would be much more achievable and would be a big step forward and a tremendous achievement. |
| "That was what they suggested in the Renewable Energy Route Map and we would welcome that." | "That was what they suggested in the Renewable Energy Route Map and we would welcome that." |
| 'Biggest obstacle' | 'Biggest obstacle' |
| However, he warned there were considerable challenges to be faced if the assembly wanted to meet that commitment. | However, he warned there were considerable challenges to be faced if the assembly wanted to meet that commitment. |
| "The biggest obstacle currently is that permission for generating more than 50 megawatts, through a wind farm, for example, lies with Westminster and not the assembly." | "The biggest obstacle currently is that permission for generating more than 50 megawatts, through a wind farm, for example, lies with Westminster and not the assembly." |
| Part of the move towards greener energy supplies is being driven by pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions. | Part of the move towards greener energy supplies is being driven by pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions. |
| But research published by the assembly government last year demonstrates just how high the green electricity mountain could be to climb. | But research published by the assembly government last year demonstrates just how high the green electricity mountain could be to climb. |
| In 2007, the study found that 29% of all carbon dioxide greenhouse gas released in Wales came from traditional electricity generation. | In 2007, the study found that 29% of all carbon dioxide greenhouse gas released in Wales came from traditional electricity generation. |
| In fact, in that year, the overall emissions from electricity production in Wales actually increased by 0.1%. | In fact, in that year, the overall emissions from electricity production in Wales actually increased by 0.1%. |
| The same report also noted that in this period, Wales produced 13.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person - nearly five tonnes of the gas more than produced per person in England and Scotland. | The same report also noted that in this period, Wales produced 13.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person - nearly five tonnes of the gas more than produced per person in England and Scotland. |