Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Floating Offshore Wind: Supply Chain

Tuesday 4 July 2023 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Stephen Kinnock questioned the Government about the lack of direction regarding the industrial strategy for floating offshore wind in Wales.
  • The Government has committed 31 million in funding for innovation in the floating offshore wind sector through the floating wind demonstration programme.
  • Philip Hollobone inquired about the actions taken by the Minister to expedite grid connections for floating offshore wind technologies.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Kinnock Lab Aberafan Maesteg
Scotland Energy Business & Trade
Context

The Climate Change Committee criticized the government for failing to deliver on their net zero commitment. The development of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea is seen as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Wales and the UK.

Question

The hon. Member is concerned that due to the lack of grip and direction, the Government may squander the opportunity presented by the development of floating offshore wind in the Celtic sea. He asks when an industrial strategy will be brought forward to ensure Welsh manufacturing and jobs are placed at the heart of turbine and substructure fabrication.

Answer from Graham Stuart

The hon. Gentleman is thanked for his question. The Government are committed to maintaining leadership in the floating offshore wind sector by supporting innovation with £31 million of government funding matched by industry.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address when an industrial strategy will be brought forward or placing Welsh manufacturing and jobs at its core.

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Q2 Stephen Kinnock Lab Aberafan Maesteg
Scotland Wales Energy Business & Trade
Context

The Climate Change Committee criticized the government for failing to deliver on their net zero commitment. The hon. Member is concerned that without proper direction and strategy, the opportunities presented by floating offshore wind will be squandered.

Question

The hon. Member highlights a once-in-a-generation opportunity in Wales and across the UK with the development of floating offshore wind. He asks when an industrial strategy will be brought forward to ensure Welsh manufacturing and jobs are placed at the heart of turbine and substructure fabrication, starting with seabed licensing.

Answer from Graham Stuart

The hon. Gentleman's points are acknowledged; the Government is committed to realizing industrial benefits, including opportunities in Wales. £31 million of government funding has been allocated for innovation through the floating wind demonstration programme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify timeline or detail on placing Welsh manufacturing and jobs at heart of strategy.

How: Undermining Labour Front-Bench Team

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Q3 Philip Hollobone Con
Climate Energy
Context

The hon. Member is concerned about the speed and capacity of grid connections necessary to bring electricity from offshore wind to users.

Question

Floating offshore wind technologies are vital, but their success relies on efficient grid connections to deliver power to end-users. The hon. Member asks what actions the Minister is taking to expedite the national grid's ability to manage these new energy sources effectively.

Answer from Graham Stuart

The hon. Friend highlights a critical issue: the need for efficient electricity delivery via the grid. The Government is focused on speeding up connections, as evidenced by initiatives like the Nick Winser review and having a dedicated networks Minister.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete measures or timelines to improve grid connection speeds.

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