Ynni Cymru
Supporting locally owned renewable energy and Smart Local Energy Systems across Wales.
Public bodies and communities across Wales are facing rising energy costs, ageing infrastructure, climate impacts and increasing pressure on public finances.
Renewable energy can help reduce costs, strengthen resilience and support Wales’ transition to net zero. However, many organisations face barriers around funding, technical complexity, grid capacity, commercial models and delivery confidence.
Smart Local Energy Systems can help by connecting renewable generation, storage, demand management and smart technologies, so places can make better use of locally generated energy.
How Local Partnerships helps with this challenge
Through Ynni Cymru, Local Partnerships supports Welsh Government’s ambition to expand locally owned renewable energy across Wales.
We help public bodies, community organisations, social enterprises and SMEs develop Smart Local Energy Systems that are practical, investable and deliver long-term local value.
Our support includes project scoping, feasibility, technical advice, commercial support, funding guidance, procurement, delivery planning and programme management. We also help organisations review and improve the performance of existing renewable energy assets.
Ynni Cymru is helping organisations across Wales move from standalone renewable energy projects towards more integrated local energy systems.
In 2025 and 2026, 77 projects across Wales were awarded a share of £23m through the Ynni Cymru Capital Grant Scheme. These projects combine renewable energy generation, storage, data and controls to power buildings, heat or transport more efficiently.
The current capital grant scheme is now closed to new applications. Please keep an eye on this page for future updates and opportunities.
Why it matters
Locally owned renewable energy helps keep more of the benefits of clean energy within Wales. It can reduce costs, support local economies and help communities and public bodies take greater control of their energy future.
Smart Local Energy Systems make renewable energy work harder by connecting generation, storage and demand in a more intelligent way. This supports more affordable, resilient and sustainable places across Wales.
Ynni Cymru: £12.9m awarded to 48 Welsh projects to power smart local energy systems
Local Partnerships is proud to support the Welsh Government to deliver the Ynni Cymru programme, helping Welsh communities generate and use clean energy close to home. Following an open call for applications, 48 projects across Wales have been awarded a share of £12.9m through the Ynni Cymru Capital Grant Scheme 2025/26. The scheme, led by […]
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Hidden gem: Adele Gritten on delivering national priorities locally
As local government reform and the devolution agenda gather pace, CSW speaks to Local Partnerships CEO about helping central government departments bridge policy ambitions and frontline delivery For those unfamiliar, what is Local Partnerships, and what makes it different from other consultancies? Adele Gritten: We are an organisation made up of senior individuals who’ve worked […]
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Ynni Cymru and Local Partnerships
The Welsh Government has an ambition to establish a publicly owned energy company for Wales, Ynni Cymru, to expand community owned renewable energy generation and support the development of Smart Local Energy Systems across Wales. To support this ambition, the Ynni Cymru team and Local Partnerships have arranged a series of free virtual energy seminars that […]
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Gweithio gyda’n gilydd : culture, collaboration and community in Wales
It was a pleasure to meet the First Minister of Wales and the Leader of Plaid Cymru this week at the Wrecsam National Eisteddfod, a festival which is a wonderful celebration of Welsh culture, art and language. I was delighted to share the successes we have helped our clients in Wales achieve with them both. As a […]
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Local Partnerships helps lead delivery of publicly-owned renewable energy for Wales
Local Partnerships is working with the Welsh Government to lead the delivery of Ynni Cymru, a new energy initiative focused on renewable energy generation at the community level. Ynni Cymru is a new publicly-owned energy company for Wales, that gives local people and communities control over local resources and renewable energy initiatives and focuses on […]
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Wales Annual Impact Report launch event in the Senedd
Last night saw the launch of Local Partnerships’ Wales Annual Impact Report. Our thanks to co-sponsors Luke Fletcher MS and Mike Hedges MS for hosting us in the Senedd, Cardiff. We were joined by guests from Welsh Government, Welsh local authorities and key stakeholders from across Wales. We were honoured that Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies attended […]
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New guidance: stakeholder engagement for decarbonisation projects
As part of our work with the Welsh Government Energy Service (WGES), we have helped to produce guidance for engaging with stakeholders when developing decarbonisation projects in the public sector. The guidance note seeks to provide useful case studies and examples on how to engage with the right stakeholders at the right time, to maintain […]
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New report sets out how government can empower local government climate action
A new report published by the LGA and developed by Local Partnerships sets out advice on how to build collaboration between the UK Government and councils to deliver on the shared ambition for responding to climate change. The report was created in consultation with chief executives and senior officers from 30 local and combined authorities, with further […]
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Local Partnerships yn helpu i arwain y gwaith o gyflenwi ynni adnewyddadwy eiddo cyhoeddus i Gymru
Mae Local Partnerships yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i arwain y gwaith yn gysylltiedig a Ynni Cymru, menter ynni newydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i sefydlu cwmni ynni cenedlaethol i ganolbwyntio ar gynhyrchu ynni adnewyddadwy ar lefel gymunedol a maes arloesol Systemau Ynni Lleol Clyfar. Mae Systemau Ynni Lleol Clyfar yn dod ag asedau ynni a […]
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Ynni Cymru: Licence Exempt Electricity Supply
3 November 2026 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Virtual Webinar
How can locally generated renewable energy deliver greater benefits for Welsh communities? In this webinar, Grant Peisley and James Dunbar explore practical approaches to local electricity supply and how they can help reduce energy costs, improve returns for generators and retain economic value locally.
Overview
The session covers three supply models: behind-the-meter systems, private wire arrangements and licence-exempt supply. Through practical examples, including Cardiff Council’s Lamby Way solar farm, it explores the opportunities and considerations for each approach, how to choose a model suited to your project, and the support available through Ynni Cymru, a Welsh Government programme delivered by Local Partnerships.
Ynni Cymru (a Welsh Government programme) hosted a webinar to provide an overview of its proposed capital grant scheme for Smart Local Energy System (SLES) projects.
The scheme is intended to support organisations in Wales, including the public sector, voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
SLES projects are expected to combine renewable energy generation technologies with data and control systems and energy storage to support energy needs such as operational power, heating or transport.
This webinar recording provides an overview of the proposed scheme, including key information on eligibility and the anticipated application process.
Drop in sessions
Our Ynni Cymru grant drop-in sessions are informal online meetings where applicants can join to ask questions about the fund and the application process. Ynni Cymru colleagues will be available for an hour to provide guidance, clarify eligibility or application requirements, and help you better understand what the grant can support.
Welsh Government’s Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP)
Watch the replay of our insightful webinar on the Welsh Government’s Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) Programme. Discover how this whole-systems approach is helping Wales achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with highlights including a Newport case study showcasing the benefits of local decarbonisation. Gain valuable takeaways on stakeholder engagement and collaboration with distribution network operators for effective implementation. If you have any questions or need support, feel free to use our ‘Can we help?’ forms or contact any of the experts listed.
Ynni Cymru energy seminars are now available to watch on demand. Delivered by the Ynni Cymru team in partnership with Local Partnerships, these free seminar replays will help you understand today’s energy systems and explore how we can work together to design a system fit for the future.
As part of the Cooperation Agreement, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government share an ambition to establish a publicly owned energy company for Wales – Ynni Cymru. The company’s mission is to expand community-owned renewable energy generation and support the growth of Smart Local Energy Systems across Wales.
By accessing the Ynni Cymru energy seminar replays, you can catch up on expert insights into energy generation, distribution, and management – and see how your community or organisation can play a part in building a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
Setting up simple renewable energy export agreements: Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and Utility Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
Energy export agreements can help you unlock revenue from surplus renewable electricity.
If you have renewable electricity generating assets supplying your building or site, there may be times when you are generating more electricity than you are using. If you have an export agreement in place (such as SEG or a Utility PPA) you will be compensated for each unit of electricity you send to the grid. If you don’t have this in place, it could be costing you ££££s per year in lost revenue. This webinar from Ynni Cymru arms you with the information you need to receive optimal payment for electricity exported.
Ynni Cymru funding Webinar – £10 million capital funding for Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES)
Ynni Cymru is once again launching a £10 million capital grant scheme for smart local energy system projects.
The competitive process will be open to the public sector, voluntary/community/social enterprise sectors and SMEs based in Wales, and all projects will have until 31 March 2026 to deliver.
Successful projects will combine renewable energy technology with energy storage to power general operations, heat or transport, and/or use data and controls to efficiently and effectively manage power consumption.
A webinar to give an overview of key facts, including eligibility and the application process, took place on Tuesday 8 April. See the replay below.
As the energy landscape evolves, battery energy storage is emerging as a key solution for organisations looking to enhance their energy efficiency, reduce costs and participate in new revenue opportunities.
Ynni Cymru has developed a new Wales Energy Storage Tool designed specifically to help Wales to explore the feasibility of installing a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
This innovative tool allows users to assess whether battery storage makes financial sense for their site, estimate the potential return on investment and understand how much revenue they could earn from participating in key energy market streams. Whether you already have renewable generation or are planning new installations, this tool can provide the insights you need to make informed decisions about integrating battery storage into your energy plans.
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