Written question WQ96402
- Asked by
- Samuel KurtzConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 11 days
Question
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of how solar panels between railway tracks could contribute to Wales’s renewable energy targets?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
The Welsh Government always looks with interest to international examples of innovation in renewable energy. Railway infrastructure in Wales (outside of the Core Valley Lines (CVL)) is owned and managed by Network Rail. We remain committed to improving the railways in Wales and continue to work with Transport for Wales and partners such as Network Rail to deliver for passengers.
Whilst we have no plans to install solar panels on the CVL, we are supporting our own green energy innovations such as those pioneered by the SPECIFIC Institute at Swansea University. SPECIFIC seeks to develop innovative solutions so that buildings and infrastructure can become active energy generating units. It has thus far has developed demonstrator units for a classroom, an office, a warehouse and a home.