Renewable energy sources- question to the FM

Ffynonellau Ynni Adnewyddadwy

C4 Bethan Jenkins: A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ddatblygu ffynonellau ynni adnewyddadwy yng Ngorllewin De Cymru? OAQ(3)0350(FM)

Y Prif Weinidog: Mae datblygu ynni adnewyddadwy yn y De-orllewin yn adlewyrchu ein hagwedd tuag at annog cynhyrchu ynni carbon-isel ledled Cymru. Defnyddir amrywiaeth eang o dechnolegau, gan gynnwys gwynt atraeth ac alltraeth, biomas, a thechnoleg forol. Ceir cynigion penodol hefyd ar gyfer datblygiadau gwynt a biomas yn y rhanbarth.

Bethan Jenkins: Efallai eich bod yn ymwybodol o gwmni o’r enw Coastal Oil and Gas yn nghwm Llynfi, sy’n lansio prosiect peilot i echdynnu nwy methan o’r ardal leol er mwyn cynhyrchu ynni glân. Tybed a fyddech yn cefnogi’r cynllun hwn, oherwydd gwn fod rhai o’ch cyd-Aelodau yn San Steffan wedi dangos diddordeb ynddo. Tybed hefyd a fyddech yn cefnogi mwy o ymchwil i’r math hwn o fenter ynni glân.

Y Prif Weinidog: Mae’n dipyn o anomaledd ar hyn o bryd—ac nid oherwydd diffyg ymdrech ar ein rhan ni—ond nid yw’r rhwymedigaeth ynni adnewyddadwy’n berthnasol ar gyfer methan pyllau glo, fel y deallaf, er bod y broses honno’n trosi methan yn garbon deuocsid. Mae carbon deuocsid yn ddrwg, ond mae methan 21 gwaith yn waeth, fesul pwys, o ran ei effaith niweidiol fel nwy tŷ gwydr. Mae’n drueni nad yw’r rhwymedigaeth ynni adnewyddadwy’n berthnasol iddo, a hoffem weld y sefyllfa honno’n newid. Nid wyf yn gyfarwydd â’r cynllun penodol ym Maesteg y cyfeiriwch ato, ond yr wyf yn siŵr y byddem yn cymeradwyo echdynnu nwy methan o byllau glo, a’i drosi’n ffurfiau llai niweidiol.


Renewable Energy Sources

Q4 Bethan Jenkins: Will the First Minister make a statement on the development of renewable energy sources in South Wales West? OAQ(3)0350(FM)

The First Minister: The development of renewable energy in south-west Wales reflects our approach to encouraging low-carbon energy generation throughout Wales. A diverse range of technologies is involved, including onshore and offshore wind, biomass, and marine technology. There are also specific proposals for wind and biomass developments in the region.

Bethan Jenkins: You may be aware of a company called Coastal Oil and Gas in the Llynfi valley, which is launching a pilot project to extract methane gas from the local area to produce clean energy. I wonder whether you would be supportive of this scheme, as I know that some of your Westminster colleagues have shown an interest in it. I also wonder whether you would support further research into this type of clean energy initiative.

The First Minister: It is a bit of an anomaly at the moment—not from any want of trying on our part—but the renewables obligation does not apply to colliery methane, as I understand it, even though that process converts methane into carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is bad, but methane is 21 times worse, pound for pound, in its pernicious effect as a greenhouse gas. It is a pity that it is not covered by the renewables obligation, and we would like to see that situation changed. I do not know the particular scheme in Maesteg that you refer to, but I am sure that we would commend colliery methane gas extraction, and its conversion into less pernicious forms.