More than 170 leaders from over 70 organisations came together in Cardiff yesterday for a major conference focused on accelerating industrial growth and Wales’ transition to net zero.
EmpowerCymru 2026, the annual conference organised by Net Zero Industry Wales (NZIW), brought together representatives from industry, investment, government, infrastructure and innovation.
Now in its third year, the sold-out event showcased Wales’ clean energy ecosystem and explored how it could support productivity, connectivity and industrial growth.
Speakers included Adam Price MS, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales Derek Walker and Laura Lotinga, Director of Corporate Affairs at NESO.
Sessions considered how Wales can unlock investment, accelerate projects and strengthen its position as a clean energy transition hub, including the role of the SWIC and NEWID industrial clusters.
New collaboration to tackle grid capacity
The conference also coincided with the announcement of a new multi-year innovation programme involving National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), Net Zero Industry Wales and Celtic Freeport.
The collaboration aims to help industrial customers connect to the electricity network sooner and support economic growth in South Wales.
Partners will test new ways of making better use of existing electricity network capacity while longer-term infrastructure is developed.
The programme follows the South Wales Industrial Dialogue, which brought together more than 30 industrial organisations and identified more than 25 potential solutions involving earlier connections, greater flexibility and improved use of existing network capacity.
Its first project will explore whether batteries can be used to help manage electricity supply and demand and create additional capacity on the network.
This could allow more energy projects and industrial customers to connect sooner while making greater use of the existing grid.
Ben Burggraaf, Chief Executive of Net Zero Industry Wales, said:
“EmpowerCymru brings together more than 170 leaders from across industry, government, energy, infrastructure and investment to share ideas, make connections and, importantly, look at how we turn ambition into action.
“The programme announced with National Grid Electricity Distribution and Celtic Freeport is a great example of that in practice – public and private sector organisations working collectively to address a challenge that is holding back industrial growth and investment.
“There is a significant opportunity for Wales to establish itself as a leading clean energy transition hub while remaining a cornerstone of the UK industrial base, but success will be measured not by the number of plans we create or visions we share, but by the tangible impact we deliver on the ground.
“Net Zero Industry Wales are not here to make the inevitable happen. We are here to make happen what otherwise wouldn’t.”
Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, said:
“Net Zero Industry Wales has established EmpowerCymru as a flagship event for Wales’ industrial and energy future.
“There are significant investment opportunities associated with energy and industrial transition and EmpowerCymru highlights the scale of ambition that exists across Wales.
“We are committed to working with Net Zero Industry Wales, and all other partners to create the conditions for sustainable industrial growth and to turn opportunities into lasting economic success that directly aligns with our productivity mission and retains value for Wales.”
Projects from across Wales showcased
This year’s EmpowerCymru placed projects, infrastructure and investment opportunities at the centre of discussions about Wales’ industrial future, with a focus on moving from planning to delivery.
Projects showcased included Milford Haven Waterway, Future Port Talbot, Celtic Freeport, HyLine Gogledd and HyLine Cymru, Holyhead Hydrogen Hub, Marine Energy Test Area (META), MaresConnect Interconnector and Green GEN Cymru grid developments.
Five emerging projects also took part in the conference’s Pitch Perfect session, presenting their propositions to a panel of industry and investment experts.
The finalists were Social Virtual Power Plant (SVPP) from the Centre for Energy Equality, Hydrostar from Hydrostar Europe, Waste2Worth CarbonCraft from Davant Commodities, VERIF-EYE Cymru from Modular Clinton Global and HyComplate.
The session was designed to highlight emerging projects and technologies with the potential to contribute to Wales’ industrial transition, while connecting those behind the projects with expertise and potential investment.
