To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of off-shore wind turbines which do not require direct anchoring to the sea bed.

Offshore wind turbines that do not require direct anchoring to the seabed, so-called "floating turbines", are a new and emerging renewable energy technology. We are aware of one in the world-in Norway-so cost estimates are highly uncertain.

A recent study on behalf of the Offshore Valuation Group⁽¹⁾ indicates a levelised cost in the range of £120 to £201/MWh for floating offshore wind turbines in 2015. By 2045, it predicts that costs will reduce to £66 to £116/MWh. For fixed offshore wind, the same report indicates levelised costs of £91 to £168/MWh in 2015 and £50 to £90/MWh in 2045.

⁽¹⁾ The Offshore Valuation: A valuation of the UK's offshore renewable energy resource. Public Interest Research Centre, 2010:

http://www.offshorevaluation.org/downloads/offshore_vaulation_full.pdf