Carmichael calls for commitment to further tidal energy support in parliamentary debate

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has called on the government to clarify future support for tidal stream power in the upcoming Contracts for Difference auction during a House of Commons debate this week. Speaking during a debate on tidal power secured by Jim Shannon MP, Mr Carmichael highlighted the benefits of tidal as a predictable source of energy and pressed the responding minister to commit to continued government support in the fifth round of Contracts for Difference pricing auctions this spring.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael said:

“Does he agree with me that the exciting prospect of tidal power is that it offers an opportunity to get a baseload of renewable energy, not just because of the predictability, but because when it ebbs somewhere, it flows somewhere else? It does not suffer from the intermittency of other renewables.

Jim Shannon MP replied:

“How wise and true those words are. Undoubtedly, when the wind is blowing, that is tremendous, but we cannot tell in advance when the wind will be blowing. We can pinpoint the tide for decades in advance, however, as the right hon. Gentleman said.”

Intervening later in the debate, Mr Carmichael said:

“I am on the record as having congratulated the Government many times on the commitment in [Auction Round 4 of Contracts for Difference]. We are seeing not just public money going into tidal stream, but private finance, and that really is the proof of the pudding. What we need now though is a commitment to continue that in AR5. He has seen already what is possible with that ringfenced pot, but we need to keep it going.”

The responding minister for energy, Graham Stuart MP said:

“Further information for AR5 will come out shortly ahead of the launch of AR5, which of course has now been moved on to an annual basis, giving further confidence, I hope, to the market.”

Speaking after the debate, Mr Carmichael said:

“We have heard positive noises from the government about future support for tidal stream power but we have to see that support in black and white. Retaining and expanding opportunities for tidal stream is a no brainer – ministers should show full-throated backing now.”