Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support (a) tidal energy, (b) other forms of renewable energy as part of a broader strategy to decrease the UK's dependence on fossil fuels.

Steps taken to support (a) tidal energy

• Tidal stream projects will be eligible to compete in the next CfD auction, currently planned for spring 2019. However, as the Clean Growth Strategy makes clear, these technologies will need to demonstrate how they can compete with other forms of generation.
• The Government is making progress on assessing the Hendry Review into tidal lagoons. The issues are complex as they relate to an untried technology in the marine environment and a time when other renewable energy costs are reducing rapidly. The Government will publish its response to the review in due course.

Steps taken to support (b) other forms of renewable energy as part of a broader strategy to decrease the UK's dependence on fossil fuels.

• In 2016, renewables share of total generation was nearly 25% of UK electricity generation, and we are on track to meet our ambition of delivering 30% of the UK’s electricity from renewables in 2020-21.
• The latest Contracts for Difference round announced on 11 September secured a further 3.3GW of renewable electricity, enough to power 3.6 million homes.
• This will see a saving of 5.4 million tonnes of carbon a year, the equivalent of the average annual carbon emissions from 2.8 million cars.
• The Clean Growth Strategy, published on 12 October, sets out the Government's plans to decarbonise the UK economy through the 2020s and beyond and includes:

1. £557 million being made available for less established renewable electricity projects. The next Contracts for Difference auction is planned for spring 2019.
2. Spending on the Renewable Heat Incentive schemes will rise from £430 million in 2015-16 to £1.15 billion in 2020-21, and following the recent government consultation the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation level will be increasing to 9.75% in 2020, rising to 12.4% in 2032.