Defining power capacity for future employment hubs

Welsh Government Power Capacity Assessment

When the Welsh Government set out to consider future investment options to create new industry and jobs for a range of locations across Wales, our team was there to help. Our job? Assessing power capacity on various sites to inform future potential to invest and develop out for commercial uses.

Given the overall constraints on the grid, understanding the availability, opportunity for access, and the limitations of power for these sites was critical in defining what could be brought forward for development. Our capacity assessments account for the power requirements of different types of industry, from manufacturing to data centres to light industrial uses.

Using existing market intelligence, we assessed the power needs of different types of tenants and developers who have expressed interest in these specific Welsh regions. We evaluated likely load requirements depending on different uses, and then liaised with the distribution network operators (DNOs) and National Grid to establish available capacity, constraints and cost and programme estimates to accommodate new power demands on the network. In assessing the sites, we also reported on what existing infrastructure can be utilised to help make each site more connected and valuable.

This is a highly proactive approach by the Welsh Government. By tackling the issue of power procurement and identifying where their opportunities lie, they are getting ahead of the curve to secure the future socio-economic needs of Wales.