Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government will maintain the tidal stream ringfence in Allocation Round 5; and what plans his Department has to secure the UK’s 11GW+ of tidal stream capacity.

Round 5, including for tidal stream, will be published in the Budget Notice in March 2023.

The Government is committed to exploring the potential of tidal power to contribute to the Government's Net Zero ambitions. Over 40MW of new tidal stream power was secured via Allocation Round 4.

To enable delivery of the commitments in the British Energy Security Strategy, the Department has strengthened the energy National Policy Statements, including a framework for assessing planning applications for tidal stream projects of above 100MW capacity. The Department will re-consult on the draft National Policy Statements shortly.