1.2 Need for the Mona Offshore Wind Project ​

1.2.1 Climate change and renewable energy ​

1.2.1.1 The UK government has an ambition to generate 50GW of clean, renewable energy from offshore wind by 2030. Figures released by BEIS in December 2022 show that the UK currently has 13.1GW of installed offshore wind capacity in the UK. There is some way to go to meet the target. The Mona Offshore Wind Project therefore has a critical role to play – both in helping the UK to achieve its net zero ambitions and, specifically, in reaching our offshore wind generation goals.

1.2.1.2 The UK’s ambition is to lead the world in combatting climate change, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and embracing a future where renewable energy powers our homes and businesses. At the centre of this drive is a commitment to reducing UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reaching net zero. Under the Climate Change Act 2008, the UK committed to a net reduction in GHG emissions of 80% by 2050 against the 1990 baseline in line with the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol. In June 2019, secondary legislation (the Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019) was passed that extended that target to at least 100% against the 1990 baseline. In order for the UK to meet these ambitions it needs to work with developers to support proposals to produce clean, renewable energy within the UK. As the Mona Offshore Wind Project is planned to be operational by 2030 it would significantly contribute to meeting these ambitions.

1.2.1.3 On 7 April 2022, the UK Government published its British energy security strategy (BEIS and Prime Minister’s Office, 2022). The strategy builds on the UK net zero target, placing a heavy reliance on a renewable and low carbon energy supply with a view to ‘bring clean, affordable, secure power to the people for generations to come...’. The strategy plans to accelerate delivery of offshore wind by developing an Offshore Wind Acceleration Task Force to work on reducing the consenting and delivery times for offshore wind projects and fast tracking priority projects. Specifically, the strategy states an ambition to deliver up to 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, an increase on previous targets of 40GW. The Mona Offshore Wind Project would bring clean, affordable, secure power to millions of homes and be a key project to deliver 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.

1.2.1.4 In July 2022, the UK Government published the Pathway to 2030 Holistic Network Design documents, which set out the approach to connecting 50GW of offshore wind to the UK electricity network (National Grid ESO, 2022).