Oral Answers to Questions

Kirstene Hair Excerpts

Tuesday 30th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)]

16. What progress he has made on promoting renewable energy generation.

[Kirstene Hair (Angus) (Con)]

18. What progress he has made on promoting renewable energy generation.

[The Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (Chris Skidmore)]

Last year, renewable generation provided a third of our electricity and, as I have stated, over the Easter weekend we went 90 hours without any coal generation. Both were new records. Our next contracts for difference allocation round will open next month. We are driving down the cost of clean technologies and investing £2.5 billion in low-carbon innovation.

--- Later in debate ---

[Chris Skidmore]

Absolutely. We need to deliver ambitious reductions in emissions, considering our long-term targets in the light of the latest science. That is why we have asked the Committee on Climate Change for advice on our long-term targets, including that net zero target. The committee’s advice will be published this Thursday, and we will consider it carefully.

[Kirstene Hair]

Of course we have a record to be proud of when it comes to renewable energy, but we should always continue to be as ambitious as we have been. How significant has the UK’s contribution been to ensuring that Scotland meets its renewable targets?

[Chris Skidmore]

The Government are firmly committed to the renewables industry, and Scotland has benefited proportionately more than the rest of the United Kingdom under existing policies. It will continue to benefit from future investment. Fifteen Scottish projects have been awarded contracts for difference with a total capacity of 2.57 GW, and the Government and numerous other public sector organisations have provided £15 million to fund the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, which is one of the world’s leading wave and tidal demonstration centres.