Opening address

Two years ago, I addressed the Tidal Power conference just as the bids for the initial renewable tranche of the NFFO were to be submitted and I stressed the Government's view that renewable energy sources offered the potential to increase diversity of supply and would assist in reducing the threat and damage posed by the greenhouse effect.

We know that the first renewable tranche of the NFFO committed the Regional Electricity Companies to secure the supply of 152 MW of renewable power supplies, and last year Colin Moynihan announced that the second renewable tranche hoped to secure a further 457 MW.