Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Offshore Wind Transmission Connections

05 November 2020 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Duncan Baker Con North Norfolk

ClimateEnergy

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Duncan Baker raised concerns about offshore wind transmission connections in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the efficient connection of offshore wind farms to the transmission grid were highlighted by Duncan Baker.
  • Baker noted that Norfolk and Suffolk already host 52% of all UK wind farms, which will supply over 60% of the nation's energy upon completion of current projects.
  • The Minister acknowledged the government's increased ambition for offshore wind capacity, raising it from 10 GW to 40 GW by 2030.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Duncan Baker Con North Norfolk

Duncan Baker, in his first Adjournment debate, highlighted the transformative potential of wind energy for climate change mitigation and the UK's position as a leader in decarbonisation. He noted that off the coast of Norfolk and Suffolk, there are already 52% of all wind farms in the country, which will contribute over 60% of the nation’s energy once current applications are built. Baker praised the government's commitment to reaching net zero by 2050 but emphasised a critical issue: how to efficiently connect such vast amounts of power into the transmission grid. He pointed out that communities in his constituency and others face disruption due to the invasive nature of connecting these projects, urging for better infrastructure and methods.

Other contributors (1)
  • Eleanor Laing Con West Berkshire

    Order was given by Eleanor Laing at 16:52, reminding the lead MP that it is five o'clock. Another intervention was made at 17:00.

Government Response

Kwasi Kwarteng

The Minister of State for Energy responded positively to Duncan Baker's concerns, acknowledging the significant role MPs have played in pushing forward this issue. He highlighted that the government has significantly increased its ambition regarding offshore wind capacity from 10 GW by 2030 to 40 GW, leading to a need for an offshore transmission network system. The Minister launched an offshore transmission network review in July to bring together stakeholders and address timing and design issues. He noted that shifting towards a more integrated solution could save up to £6 billion by 2050 and provide substantial environmental benefits. While acknowledging the time needed due to the complexity of redesigning regulatory frameworks, he emphasised the government's commitment to expedite this process for economic and environmental gains.

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