Written question WQ83775
- Asked by
- Delyth JewellPlaid
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What assessment has been made of the support required by those people living off-grid to assist in the transition to using electric vehicles?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Climate Change
The Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy and Action plan recognises that solutions are required to support rural communities. The strategy points to the potential to use renewable energy generation and energy storage at varying scale for this purpose.
We understand that Distribution Network Operators have an obligation to provide quotations for electrical connections and that true off-grid living is generally a lifestyle choice. There are many examples of home owners living off-grid across the world using domestic scale renewable generation and energy storage, with sufficient potential to power a transport solution if they so wish.
The aims of the strategy and Action Plan are supported through various funding initiatives, but predominantly by the Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Transformation Fund (ULEVTF). This is aimed at supporting projects that serve multiple electric vehicle users, such as a rural charging hub.
In such a scenario, providing a route to market for renewable energy may improve the viability of a local community generation scheme and thus would have the potential to attract a level of support for the combined project. We may also support an off-grid opportunity if it provided public charging infrastructure.