Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans his Department has to develop tidal power technology around the UK; and what investment he plans to allocate for such projects.

In August this year, the Department confirmed a grant award under the Marine Energy Array Deployment fund of up to £10m for the development of the world’s first tidal stream array project in the Pentland Firth.

Tidal energy projects may also receive support under the Renewables Obligation and through applying for a Contract for Difference.

In October 2010, the Government published the conclusions of a 2-year feasibility study into tidal power on the Severn estuary, including a regional economic impact assessment. While the Government concluded it did not see a strategic case for public investment in a tidal energy scheme in the Severn estuary, the outcome of the feasibility study does not preclude a privately financed scheme. The document can be downloaded at the following web-link:

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