Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 8
Fourth Report - Renewable energy in Scotland
Published 17 Sep 2021
Paragraph 45
Addressed to Scotland Office
Scottish Affairs Committee Renewable energy in Scotland All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The UK is at the forefront of tidal renewable energy technology, but the UK Government must invest more in this sector to ensure that the UK retains its world leading position. A laissez-faire approach risks the UK being left behind again, as happened when Denmark eclipsed the UK in its approach to the offshore wind market. The UK can become world leaders within the tidal energy sector if the right level of investment is introduced and sustained. We welcome the announcement of the tidal stream strike price, but there is concern that this is not the correct funding mechanism for emerging renewable technology. This investment could also bring huge export benefits to the UK. We recommend that guaranteed financial support be provided by the UK Government for development of tidal energy through the CfD mechanism. This investment will be able to bring tidal energy generation to market to maximise the potential of renewable energy in the UK, give confidence to investors, and increase exports of tidal technology.
From: Scottish Affairs Committee, Fourth Report - Renewable energy in Scotland (HC 51), paragraph 45, 17 September 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 1 December 2021 (deadline 17 November 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response sets out its position on each recommendation, stating that network regulation and transmission charging are "a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator" and that it "has no plans to amend Ofgem's statutory duties".
- On grid reinforcement, the government "recognises the need for increased capacity on the grid" and says it "will continue to engage with Ofgem"; it gives no response on the Committee's deadline of the end of 2022.
- On transmission charging, it "shares the Committee's view on the importance" of the arrangements. It notes that Ofgem published a call for evidence on possible reforms and has said it will announce next steps "later this quarter".
- On Ofgem's statutory duties, it states it "has no plans to amend Ofgem's statutory duties to include a separate net-zero duty". It points instead to its commitment to consult on a Strategy and Policy Statement for Ofgem in 2021.
- On tidal energy, it says tidal stream "will have to reduce its costs to compete" but is an eligible technology for Contracts for Difference. It is "evaluating" evidence from last year's call for evidence on marine energy.