To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of proposals to create a high voltage direct current supergrid covering Europe, the Middle East and North Africa as a means of allowing renewable energy from a variety of sources to be transmitted across the region in a secure and cost-effective fashion; and if he will make a statement. (232374)

The idea of a ‘Plan Solaire’ involving a supergrid that would cover North Africa and the Middle East as well as Europe is interesting. We will wish to explore how such a scheme might promote the EU’s objectives for security of energy supply and meeting renewable energy targets. We are awaiting detailed proposals before making an assessment. The cost of building the high voltage direct current grid that would be a necessary part of such a project, as well as the security of any such installation over such large distances, would be key issues in any assessment.