Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether it plans to provide direction to the National Energy System Operator to account for marine energy in its Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The first iteration of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will not include spatial optimisation for wave and tidal energy projects as they are emerging technologies and volumes in development are currently very low. As policy and technology advance, the Government and NESO will keep this position under review and may consider the inclusion of wave and tidal energy in future iterations of the SSEP.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential generating capacity of UK tidal stream and wave energy resources; and what steps they are taking to realise this potential.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the potential of marine energy to support the UK’s transition to net zero. Independent studies, including those by the Carbon Trust and the Royal Society, have assessed the scale and value of the UK’s tidal stream and wave energy resources.
We continue to drive UK marine energy development through policy levers such as the Contracts for Difference scheme and innovation funding delivered via UK Research & Innovation. Through these measures, the UK is on track to deploy over 120 MW of tidal stream capacity by 2029, secured through the last three CfD allocation rounds.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan will account for tidal stream and wave energy technologies.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The first iteration of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will not include spatial optimisation for wave and tidal energy projects as they are emerging technologies and volumes in development are currently very low. As policy and technology advance, the Government and NESO will keep this position under review and may consider the inclusion of wave and tidal energy in future iterations of the SSEP.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of wave and tidal energy in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
The Government expects tidal stream to play a role in the 2030 energy mix, with even more potential to help meet the UK’s longer-term decarbonisation objectives beyond 2030.
Wave energy technologies have promise and the Government is closely monitoring the strides being made by the sector. These technologies are currently at the research and design (R&D) stage and may still have an important role to play in the UK energy system post-2030.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for establishing a separate contracts for difference funding pot for wave energy generation, so that its funding is no longer in competition with technologies which are closer to market.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is developing auction parameters for the sixth allocation round of the Contracts for Difference scheme, including any for wave technologies. This will take into account several factors, including evidence of the pipeline of available projects. Final parameters, including the budget, will be published ahead of the round opening in March 2024.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that gypsy and traveller site residents have consumer choice of energy providers.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Electricity and gas suppliers generally provide energy to parks and traveller sites via a contract with the park or site owner, who then resells that energy to the tenants. Therefore, residents buy their energy from the park/site owner, not from an energy supplier.
Ofgem has put in place the Maximum Resale Price regulation which requires park or site owners to resell energy to tenants at the same price that they bought it from the supplier.
Whether a tenant can have a direct relationship with an energy supplier will be governed by the terms of the arrangement between the park or site owner and tenant, plus whether the local metering and cabling arrangements enable the residence to operate a direct connection to the distribution system.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the development of wave energy technology.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Wave energy technologies have promise but they remain some way from commercial viability and are still at a pre-commercial stage.
The Government supports the development of wave energy technologies through research funding programmes operated both centrally and through UK Research and Innovation. Additionally, wave projects remain eligible to compete in the Contracts for Difference scheme.
The Government engages with industry as it seeks to cut costs, improve reliability and compete with other forms of low-carbon generation.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government on what timescales they expect a marine renewable consent can be achieved; and what specific steps they are taking to support a proportionate, streamlined and bespoke consenting process for marine renewables to accelerate the development and deployment of marine renewables within UK waters.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In February 2023 the Government published an Action Plan to deliver reforms to improve the planning system for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, which the Government is implementing. Five revised energy National Policy Statements, published in March 2023, are out for consultation.
Consenting time is around 20 months, although this varies depending on the specific circumstances. In the Action Plan, the Government outlined its intention to establish a fast-track consenting timeframe, which will be available for certain projects, where defined quality standards are met. Proposals for fast-track consenting, including for marine renewables, will be consulted on in spring 2023.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the performance of Wave Energy Scotland; and what plans they have, if any, to replicate its model to support the development of wave energy in England.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has no plans to make an assessment of Wave Energy Scotland. It was established, and is fully funded, by the Scottish Government.
The Government supports the development and deployment of wave energy in the UK through research funding programmes and the Contracts for Difference scheme.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they intend to provide to innovative renewable deployment, such as combined wind and wave offshore sites.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government supports innovative renewable deployment through a suite of research funding programmes and the Contracts for Difference scheme. For example, research projects on combining offshore wind and wave sites can apply to UK Research and Innovation for funding.