Carmichael to lead parliamentary debate on marine renewables industry
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has secured a three-hour parliamentary debate on government support for the marine renewables industry, to be held on Thursday 16th January.
The debate application was supported by MPs from six parties, including the Labour Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee, Bill Esterson MP. Mr Carmichael has led multiple debates in the past in support of marine renewables technologies such as wave and tidal stream energy, and was part of the successful campaign in 2021 to secure the first ringfenced funding for tidal stream energy developments under the Contracts for Difference scheme. He is also Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Marine Energy.
Mr Carmichael said:
“Securing this debate is excellent news for the marine renewables industry and for the Northern Isles, which play host to some of the most important sites for wave and tidal energy development.
“The new government has a stated ambition to make the UK a “Clean Energy Superpower”. If they are to achieve this then marine renewables, and in particular tidal stream energy, are going to have to play a central role.
“That is why this is the ideal time to consider the role of the government in driving exports, industrial development and supply chains in the UK. If we are not ambitious enough in our support then other countries are ready to take the initiative and the supply chain benefits that we currently enjoy.
“There are enormous opportunities for green growth and green jobs for the UK, and particularly in coastal and island communities, in supporting marine renewables, but those opportunities may be lost if pressure is not brought in Parliament to leverage them properly in the coming months.
“We need to bring pressure to bear to set a clear 1 gigawatt target and further increases in ringfenced investment for tidal and wave energy. That is the challenge that I intend us to put to the minister in the debate in January.”