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Written Question
Renewable Energy
Tuesday 24th October 2017

Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)

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.

Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford

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.
Written Question
Tidal Lagoons Independent Review
Tuesday 27th June 2017

Asked by: Richard Graham (Conservative - Gloucester)

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 implementing the recommendations of the Hendry Review on Tidal Lagoons.

Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford

I congratulate my Hon. Friend for his continued advocacy on tidal lagoons.

We are making progress on assessing the recommendations of the Hendry Review. As my Hon. Friend will be aware, the issues are complex, as they relate to an untried technology in the marine environment. It is important we understand the costs and challenges posed by this technology in relation to its possible role in the UK’s energy mix and potential environmental impact.

Written Question
Tidal Power: Swansea Bay
Monday 3rd April 2017

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will provide research funding for an assessment of the potential effect of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon on 10 year fishing spawning cycles; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Department considers funding for a range of research activities and is carefully considering the recommendations contained in Charles Hendry’s recent report on tidal lagoons.

Any decisions arising from the Review, including whether to proceed with the Swansea Bay project, will need to balance the priorities of security of supply, affordability and meeting our climate change obligations.

We understand that Natural Resources Wales are currently examining the developer’s marine licence application.

Written Question
Tidal Power
Wednesday 10th December 2014

Asked by: Chris Ruane (Labour - Vale of Clwyd)

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the contribution of tidal impoundment to renewable energy production in the UK.

Answered by Amber Rudd

In 2007, the Government published the Atlas of UK marine renewable energy resources (see attached), which assesses, amongst other things, the tidal range resource around the UK.

The Government’s 2010 Severn Tidal Power feasibility study [1] then assessed the potential for 5 generic Severn Estuary schemes, including potential energy production.

Following this, the 2012 Crown Estate’s UK Wave and Tidal Key Resource Areas [2] assessed the theoretical resource of tidal barrage and tidal lagoons across the UK at 96 TWh/year (45 GW) and 25 TWh/year (14 GW) respectively.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/1-severn-tidal-power-feasibility-study-conclusions-and-summary-report

[2] The Crown Estate, UK Wave and Tidal Key Resource Areas Project, Summary Report, October 2012