RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND THE FUTURE DEMAND FOR STEEL

That this House welcomes the two positive announcements in favour of renewable electricity generation projects made on 26 January 2009, including prospects for a barrage across the River Severn estuary and between 5,000 and 7,000 more offshore wind turbines; believes such sustainable energy projects, along with various marine generation technologies including wave power devices, are the way forward for securing the robustness and flexibility of United Kingdom electricity supply; recognises that such projects will require significant raw materials to manufacture the supporting structures; notes that at least 3,500,000 tonnes of steel will be required for the wind programme alone; and calls on Government departments, including the Department for Energy and Climate Change, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and the Wales Office, to work together to secure the production of the steel requirement for the expansion of renewable energy systems from United Kingdom sources, and to provide a sustainable future for the UK steel industry.