Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has plans to harness the tidal power of the Severn Estuary.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is open to considering well-developed proposals for harnessing the tidal range energy in the bays and estuaries around our coastlines, including barrage schemes and other alternatives. Revised guidance in the energy National Policy Statement will be published shortly.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department’s policy is on (a) initiatives and (b) reforms that will need to be taken forward by (i) Ofgem, (ii) National Grid and (iii) his Department to achieve the Government’s target of 50GW by 2030.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Holistic Network Design (HND) provides a recommended design to connect 23GW of offshore wind. Alongside projects already installed, in planning or in consenting, total capacity if delivered, will exceed 50GW by 2030.
To ensure the infrastructure identified in the HND can be built, BEIS is working across government to implement the commitments made in the British Energy Security Strategy.
BEIS also supports and encourages the work of Ofgem and National Grid Electricity Systems Operator (NGESO) in developing and implementing the HND. For example, Ofgem is consulting on appropriate delivery models for projects in the HND and on accelerating the delivery of the strategic electricity transmission network. NGESO published their ‘Industry Code, Standard and Licence Recommendation Report' alongside the HND in July 2022; this outlined the scope of the changes to codes and standards needed to implement the HND. The NGESO is now working with industry to progress these changes.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of setting up public a body, analogous to Wave Energy Scotland, in the context of conducting research and development in the field of tidal power.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy, including tidal power. The Government established it in 2013.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the details for the Chancellor's Energy Efficiency Taskforce will be published; and whether there will be a consultation on this taskforce.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Details on the scope and membership of the Taskforce will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution of onshore wind farms to the sustainability of the UK energy sector.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Onshore wind is an important part of the energy mix, accounting for around a quarter of both installed renewable capacity and generation in the UK. The costs of onshore wind have fallen dramatically and are around 50% cheaper than in 2015. The British Energy Security Strategy set out that the Government is serious about delivering cheaper, cleaner, more secure power, and will consider all options for increasing onshore wind deployment in ways that local communities will support. More low-cost renewables like onshore wind on the system will limit household electricity bills by ensuring Britain is less affected by fluctuations in volatile global gas prices.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department has made on reform of Ofgem's remit.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Ofgem’s primary statutory duty is to protect the interests of existing and future consumers in relation to gas conveyed through pipes and electricity conveyed by distribution or transmission systems. The Government, together with the expertise of Ofgem as the independent market regulator, is continuing to look at reforms to energy markets to ensure that they deliver secure, low carbon and low-cost energy to all consumers.
The Government is also working to develop its Strategy and Policy statement (SPS) for energy policy in Great Britain. This key document will provide Ofgem with a strategic framework to deliver the Government’s energy policy ambitions.