Anglesey MP Virginia Crosbie Champions New Energy for the Island
Although the Coronavirus pandemic has generated great hardship for Anglesey it continues to offer an opportunity, as the name ‘Energy Island’ suggests, for a Green Recovery.
The greener energy sources that Anglesey can offer are key to the UK Government’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 - the first legally binding commitment of its kind in the world. Working closely with the Government to reach this target is the MP for Ynys Môn - Virginia Crosbie. Ms Crosbie has continuously put pressure on the Government to deliver its 2050 net-zero carbon target and was the first MP to discuss Hydrogen energy in the House of Commons Chamber.
Today Ms Crosbie met with the Secretary of State for BEIS (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), the Rt Honourable Alok Sharma MP to discuss the soon to be published energy white paper, the Government’s commitment to nuclear energy and the Development Consent Order that must be approved before Wylfa Newydd can start producing nuclear energy. The site is large enough to produce most of the electricity needed for Wales, potentially making the electricity supply of Wales net-zero by 2030.
However, Wylfa Newydd is only one of the many ongoing projects on the island. The exciting Morlais project by Menter Môn hopes to make use of Anglesey’s geography to harvest tidal energy. The project is awaiting approval, but should it be successful, Anglesey may become the world’s largest tidal energy producer, turning the tide on the region’s economy.
Another ground-breaking tidal energy project is Minesto’s Holyhead Deep - the world’s first low-flow tidal stream approach. Following the successful deployment and testing of the first device, the ambition is to install further Deep Green devices and gradually expand the site.
In the middle of it all are M-SParc, Bangor University’s Science Park who has a focus on the Low Carbon sector. “These are challenging times for the economy but there are opportunities here to accelerate towards a green recovery” said Pryderi ap Rhisiart, MD of M-SParc. “With economic opportunities in the low carbon sector on the Island I’m delighted to see the University developing skills, Research and Development in these sectors and working alongside industry here at M-SParc” he added.
A recent webinar called the Energy Island Strategic Forum hosted by Anglesey Council detailed the upcoming projects and opportunities for Anglesey. In attendance was Ms Crosbie who said “I am proud to take part in the process of enabling Anglesey to play a leading role in the decarbonisation of the UK economy. Those who presented today have worked hard to get to this point, but they now need the backing of the Government to make their visions a reality, and that is exactly what I will be championing with my role in Westminster”.