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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support the wave and tidal energy sector in the South West.

In October 2017, the Government confirmed that up to £557 million of annual support would be available for further Contracts for Difference (including projects such as wave and tidal stream) with the next competitive allocation round planned for Spring 2019. In addition, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy also provides grant funding for the wave and tidal stream sector through the BEIS Energy Entrepreneurs’ Fund.

The Government is currently assessing the Hendry Review into tidal lagoons and is considering how this technology delivers against its priorities, as set out in the Clean Growth Strategy and the Industrial Strategy. This will ensure that the response to the Hendry Review takes into account the best interests of the UK as a whole and represents value for money for the UK taxpayer and the consumer.