[holding answer 24 January 2008]: The Government have in place a number of initiatives that encourage the development of tidal power.
The Government’s main mechanism for supporting renewable energy is the Renewables Obligation (RO). We recently announced our final plans to reform the RO so that it maximises contributions from both established and emerging technologies. These include providing greater support to tidal barrages and lagoons up to 1 Giga Watt and to tidal-stream technologies. Further details can be found at
www3.dti.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/consultations/renewables-obligation/page39555.html
Support for the research and development of tidal power technology development is given by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) which is a joint Government and industry initiative. Details on the ETI’s first call for projects, launched on 17 December 2007, include tidal power and can be seen at:
www.energytechnologies.co.uk/technology-programmes/current-programmes/marine-wave-and-tidal/
In addition, the £50 million ‘Marine Renewables Deployment Fund’ provides a package of measures to support the first grid connected multi-device tidal-stream pre-commercial demonstrations. Further details can be found at:
www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/funding/marine/page19419.html
On 22 January we announced the detailed terms of reference for a new feasibility study that will look into the potential for tidal power in the Severn Estuary. Further details of the study can be found at:
www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/wave-tidal/tidal/severntidalpower/page41473.html
My Department is currently considering an application for consent for a tidal energy device in the Humber Estuary.