🌊 Marine Renewables Industry

Westminster Hall

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The UK Parliament debated the support needed for the marine renewables industry, focusing on tidal and wave energy. Despite Britain’s potential to lead in green energy, MPs stressed the urgency for increased governmental backing through mechanisms like funding, streamlined consents, and industry coordination to boost this sector. There are economic opportunities in marine energy, but the industry still faces challenges in reaching commercial viability. The discussion included calls for a marine energy taskforce and recognizing the sector’s importance alongside other marine uses like fishing and environmental considerations.

Summary

  • Overview of Debate: The House considered Government support for the marine renewables industry, focusing on the potential and current status of tidal stream and wave energy in the UK, especially in Scotland and the Celtic regions.

  • Economic Potential: Industry stakeholders and members highlighted that marine energy could contribute significantly to the UK economy, with potential for £37 billion GVA to Scotland by 2050, of which £28 billion could come from exports.

  • Job Creation: The sector has the potential to create 62,400 jobs, significantly more than the current wind industry.

  • Government Support Post-2030: The Government recognizes marine renewables as vital beyond 2030 for energy security and economic growth, but current policies place them secondary to meeting the clean power target by 2030.

  • Contracts for Difference (CfD): There was a call for an increased ringfenced budget for marine energy in the upcoming allocation round. The previous government had a 50% increase in the ringfence for tidal stream in the last round.

  • Infrastructure and Grid Connections: Grid connection issues were highlighted as a bottleneck for project deployment, prompting discussions on needed reforms to speed up connection times.

  • Innovation and Research: There’s significant emphasis on continuing support for R&D, with universities like Edinburgh and sites like the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) playing crucial roles.

  • Investment Concerns: Discussions included the balance between deployment targets and value for money for consumers regarding the CfD mechanism.

  • Consultation and Reform: Engagement with all regional administrations, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, is seen as crucial for holistic development.

  • Environmental and Community Considerations: Balancing energy projects with fishing communities and marine biodiversity is emphasized, advocating for carefully planned development.

  • Future Targets: Industry and MPs called for setting binding deployment targets, such as a 1 GW tidal stream target by 2035, to provide investor confidence and direction.

  • Government Commitment: The Government expressed commitment to marine renewables, recognizing their role in the long-term energy strategy and possible involvement of Great British Energy in early-stage investment.

  • Global Competitiveness: Concerns were raised about the UK’s competitive edge in marine renewables if improvements in consenting processes and infrastructure aren’t made.

  • Local Benefits: Ensuring local benefits, including jobs and investment in coastal communities, was a recurrent theme, especially in areas like Wales and the South West.

This debate showcased a bipartisan consensus on the importance of fostering marine renewables in the UK, emphasizing economic, environmental, and energy security benefits.

Divisiveness

The parliamentary session displayed a primarily cooperative atmosphere with minimal areas of overt disagreement. Arguments were civil, and participants mostly contributed constructively to advance discussions on marine renewable energy issues. Disagreements that did occur were expressed respectfully and were aimed at clarifying policy directions rather than obstructing dialogue. For these reasons, the level of divisiveness can reasonably be considered to be low, warranting a score of 2.