ANGLESEY should be “at the forefront” of 21st Century low carbon energy production.

That’s the view of the local MP who used this week’s Anglesey Show to launch a new booklet highlighting how the island could play “a vital and pivotal role” as major economies move towards a low carbon future.

The handout, “Resetting the Energy Button”, will be sent to households across the island and highlights the major job creation potential as Anglesey does its bit to “keep the lights on.”

The National Grid’s Future Energy Scenario report forecasts peak electricity demand to rise over the next few decades.

Their various scenarios predict that one of the main drivers for this upsurge will be electric cars as well as the electrification of heating systems, including domestic boilers.

“I’m proud to have championed Anglesey as a pioneer in energy production and to be able to focus attention on the vital and pivotal role our island can play as we move towards a low carbon future,” said Albert Owen MP at Mona Showground on Tuesday.

“I see this booklet as an opportunity to highlight to a wider audience the importance and ongoing potential of Anglesey to energy production in the UK.

“Resetting the Energy Button sets out an exciting future for Anglesey and celebrates the island’s proud tradition of energy production.”

The booklet also highlights the contributions of the new M-SParc development in Gaerwen which has the ability to host research and development firms in the field, Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences in Menai Bridge and Holyhead-based power management company, Eaton.

Here are some of the proposed energy projects earmarked for Anglesey over the coming years:

Wylfa Newydd

The Magnox Wylfa ‘A’ nuclear plant is currently being decommissioned but generated electricity for 44 years, employing over 500 workers at its peak.

Located near Cemaes, the plant became operational in 1971 before eventually ceasing generation in 2015, after producing 232 TWh of electricity – enough to power nearly all of Wales 1.3m homes.

Its replacement is a proposed 2.7GW nuclear station to be developed by Horizon, with the aim of starting to generate electricity during the mid 2020’s.

Set to remain operational for 60 years, its anticipated it would mean up to 850 permanent jobs.

Marine Energy

Menter Môn established Morlais Marine Energy after being awarded access rights to a 37km portion of seabed off the coast of Holy Island.

At present, eight firms have signed up for sites within the zone to test their tidal technologies – set to accommodate up to 240MW of generation.

Morlais now hopes to secure around £30m – including funding as part of the North Wales Growth Bid – to develop the site.

In a separate development, Minesto has received £9.5 million of EU funds to develop its own £25 million tidal energy initiative and build its British HQ on Anglesey.

The Swedish firm’s plans include placing ‘underwater kites’ in waters near Holyhead to generate power – known as ‘Holyhead Deep’.

The Deep Green ‘underwater kites’ are low velocity devices, tethered to the seabed, that could produce electricity for thousands of homes from tidal and ocean currents.

Anglesey’s coastline has been highlighted as a good testing ground for the technology due to its low tidal speeds, water depth and wave heights.

Combined heat and power

Work on a new 299MW biomass plant at the site of the former Anglesey Aluminium facility began during the summer 2017.

In all, Orthios say that the plans would not only provide power for the National Grid, but also generate enough energy for 650,000 homes.

Meanwhile, the spare heat being generated will then be used to warm indoor ponds for king prawn farming, which currently need to be imported to the UK.

The site on the outskirts of Holyhead will also boadt a hydroponic indoor vegetable growing facility, with the existing deep water jetty being used to import bulk items by sea.

Once up and running, the combined heat and power plant looks set to employ 500 full-time workers.

Solar power

A recently approved planning application will see construction of a 49.9MW solar farm in Llanbadrig near Cemaes Bay, set to produce enough electricity to power 15,000 homes.

The 200,000 panels will be developed by Countryside Renewables despite strong opposition from the local community who raised objections due to its sheer scale and potential impact on tourism.

The firm, however, say that the 220 acres will still be available for grazing with the CO2 savings over the 30-year lifetime of the project set to be 612,000 tonnes – the equivalent of taking nearly 14,000 cars off the road.