---

25 Oct 2005 : Column 293W—continued

Newspapers and Magazines

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review the local wholesaling arrangements by publishers for the supply and distribution of newspapers and magazines. [20886]

Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 24 October 2005]: None. Following a request from members of the publishing industry, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is considering the compatibility with competition law of distribution arrangements for newspapers and magazines, including the issue of wholesalers being allocated exclusive geographical distribution territories. The OFT published a provisional opinion on this matter on 19 May 2005 and has since received further representations from across the newspaper and magazine supply chain. The new chief executive of the OFT, John Fingleton, is taking a fresh look at the opinion.

Nuclear Power

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the nuclear installations in the United Kingdom where nuclear materials accounting operates on a near real time basis. [18271]

 
25 Oct 2005 : Column 294W
 

Malcolm Wicks: Nuclear materials accountancy is used at UK nuclear sites to help meet statutory domestic regulations and international safeguards requirements. International safeguards requirements include the timely detection of diversion of civil nuclear material. This timeliness is a function of material type and form. Some nuclear installations therefore operate near real time materials accountancy" to meet this safeguards requirement. Such accountancy systems are not designed for process control and are distinct from systems for monitoring the safety and security at the installation. Parts of the Sellafield MOX Plant (SMP) and THORP reprocessing plant at Sellafield operate near real time materials accountancy".

Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to develop new nuclear power plants in the UK. [19801]

Malcolm Wicks: None. The Government have stated that before any decision to proceed with the building of new nuclear power stations, there would need to be the fullest public consultation and the publication of a White Paper setting out the Government's proposals.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to publish a White Paper setting out the Government's proposals on whether to build new nuclear power stations. [17773]

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently announced that the Government would bring forward proposals on energy policy next year. The analysis of options will include an assessment of civil nuclear power.

The Government have stated that before any decision to proceed with the building of new nuclear power stations, there would need to be the fullest public consultation and the publication of a White Paper setting out the Government's proposals.

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what account has been taken of projected rises in sea levels due to global warming in the siting of new power stations; [18125]

(2) what guidance he has issued in respect of siting of new power stations. [18158]

Malcolm Wicks: I have issued no guidance. Location is a matter for the developer to consider and substantiate in putting forward his application. That application will be considered against the environmental implications of the location chosen.

Post Office Ltd.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many mobile post offices are operating in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the North Down constituency. [20640]

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). The chief executive, David Mills, has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.
 
25 Oct 2005 : Column 295W
 

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the Office of Fair Trading to rule on the suitability and fairness of the standard contract offered by Post Office Ltd. to members of the Association of Convenience Stores; and if he will make a statement. [20887]

Barry Gardiner [holding answer 24 October 2005]: This is a matter for the OFT. I understand OFT is currently still in the process of consulting interested parties.

Power Cuts

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the possible implications for the operation of medical equipment of a cut in mains voltage during a one in 50 cold winter. [18492]

Malcolm Wicks: Medical equipment is designed to operate at the standard supply voltage and within the statutory limit for the UK of plus 10 per cent. minus 6 per cent.

In NHS hospitals, where the supply voltage falls to a value likely to give rise to danger or equipment failure, then automatic systems disconnect the network supply and revert to a stand-by generator supply until the network is restored to a sustained normal value.

Property Searches

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to implement (a) the method of determination and (b) the level of charging by local authorities for property searches in response to the conclusions of the Office of Fair Trading report into property searches published in September. [21285]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government are considering the recommendations made by the Office of Fair Trading in their market study on property searches. We welcome the publication of this report and are discussing the recommendation with stakeholders. The response will be published within 90 days of the publication date of the report.

Radioactive Waste

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what volumes of (a) low-level, (b) intermediate and (c) high-level radioactive waste are stored in the United Kingdom. [19731]

Mr. Morley: I have been ask to reply

The UK Radioactive Waste Inventory, which is jointly prepared by DEFRA and Nirex, details the volumes of waste in store in the UK as at 1 April 2001 as:

	Cubic metres
Higher Level Waste (HLW)	764
Intermediate Level Waste (ILW)	74,466
Low Level Waste (LLW)	15,674

 
25 Oct 2005 : Column 296W
 

This is on the basis that the volumes quoted represent the waste in final conditioned form.

Conditioned radioactive waste is immobilised in a solid and stable form that reduces the hazard for long-term management.

Details of the volumes held as at 1 April 2004 will be published later this year as the 2004 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory.

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department is funding in respect of transforming biomass into hydrogen. [17181]

Malcolm Wicks: Biomass to hydrogen has been identified as one of six hydrogen energy chains, which could offer cost-competitive CO ₂ reductions and increased energy security for the UK by 2030. Further details are in the Strategic Framework for Hydrogen Energy in the UK (http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/hydrogen_framework_full.pdf). My Department is currently developing a £15 million demonstration programme for hydrogen and fuel cells and we are committed to establishing a Hydrogen Coordination Unit.

A £312,000 grant has recently been offered to the PERA Group to support a £596,000 project to develop a process for the production of hydrogen from biomass and wastes using supercritical water gasification.

Prior to this, the DTI commissioned a study from Imperial College to assess the options for the production of transport fuels from renewable sources. This study included hydrogen production from biomass. The final report from this work is available on the DTI website (http://www.dti.gov.uk) URN 03/982.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent (a) within the EU and (b) within the UK on (i) nuclear fusion and fission research and (ii) renewable energy research in each year from 1980 to date. [17182]

Malcolm Wicks: It has not been possible to collate all public expenditure and other Government support since 1980 for energy technologies in the time available at proportionate cost. However it is possible to detail direct DTI and Research Council expenditure on new and renewables, clean fossil fuels and nuclear for the years 1990 onwards. These are set out in the following tables.

In addition to this both DEFRA and the Scottish Executive provide funding to the Carbon Trust which conducts research into low carbon energy activities among other activities. DEFRA also funds research into combined heat and power, which is also detailed in the following tables.

For figures relating to the rest of the EU, I would refer you to the EEA renewables 2005 for the latest details and can be found at, http://www.iea.org.
 
25 Oct 2005 : Column 297W
 

DTI new and renewable energy programme—external spend for each technology area by financial year from 1990–91

Rounded to nearest £000
	Spend
Programme area	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Bio Wastes	874,000	1,237,000	1,158,000	916,000	1,235,000	1,097,000	593,000	75,000
Biomass	973,000	1,153,000	1,961,000	2,378,000	2,350,000	2,313,000	1,937,000	1,317,000
Embedded Generation	0	54,000	108,000	463,000	908,000	835000	647,000	586,000
Fuel cells	155,000	339,000	362,000	827,000	915,000	1,172,000	914,000	900,000
Geothermal—Aquifers	-8,000	55,000	130,000	143000	0	0	0	0
Geothermal—Hot Dry Rocks	2,579,000	1,567,000	1,088,000	989,000	245,000	0	0	0
Hydro	33,000	122,000	70,000	167,000	148,000	79,000	142,000	57,000
Solar	2,124,000	2,354,000	2,302,000	2,378,000	2,067,000	1,878,000	1,874,000	1,660,000
Tidal	1,860,000	1,932,000	1,726,000	582,000	220,000	165,000	0	0
Wave	388,000	467,000	325,000	196,000	106,000	42,000	50,000	0
Wind	4,530,000	6,674,000	8,694,000	7,310,000	2,729,000	3,370,000	2,365,000	1,240,000
Grand total	13,500,000	15,954,000	17,924,000	16,349,000	10,923,000	10,951,000	8,522,000	5,835,000

	Spend
	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	Total
Bio Wastes	48,000	25,000	56,000	13,000	42,000	259,000	—	7,628,000
Biomass	1,076,000	1,585,000	1,267,000	1,333,000	1,595,000	1,346,000	974,222	23,558,222
Embedded Generation	530,000	596,000	589,000	776,000	1,424,000	725,000	1,105,640	9,346,640
Fuel cells	1,197,000	1,168,000	1,410,000	1,249,000	1,200,000	1,701,000	4,907,430	18,416,430
Geothermal—Aquifers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	320,000
Geothermal—Hot Dry Rocks	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6,468,000
Hydro	80,000	138,000	60,000	130,000	200,000	85,000	0	1,511,000
Solar	983,000	1,278,000	1,264,000	1,522,000	4,485,000	3,131,000	1,970,340	31,270,340
Tidal	0	0	27,000	305,000	1,996,000	2,914,000	1,268,530	12,995,530
Wave	91,000	11,000	331,000	662,000	748,000	2,104,000	—	5521,000
Wind	950,000	801,000	913,000	1,248,000	1,428,000	1,395,000	1,459,600	45,106,600
Grand total	4,955,000	5,602,000	5,917,000	7,238,000	13,118,000	13,660,000	11,685,762	162,133,762

Notes:
1. From 2000–01, figures do not include spend on contracts placed direct by DTI.
2. For 2004–05, highlighted cells show a combined spend for the two areas
3. It has not been possible to collate expenditure on oil and gas research in the time available





DTI clean coal programme

	£
1990–91	10,199,000
1991–92	4,108,000
1992–93	3,020,000
1993–94	6,918,000
1994–95	6,876,000
1995–96	6,626,000
1996–97	5,195,000
1997–98	3,100,000
1998–99	2,900,000
1999–2000	2,500,000
2000–01	4,300,000
2001–02	4,400,000
2002–03	3,00,000
2003–04	5,000,000
2004–05	(28)6,500,000
Total	68,142,000

⁽²⁸⁾ Estimate

Figures for direct Government expenditure (but not including spending by the Research Councils) on nuclear fission:
Nuclear

	£
1991–92	73,500,000
1992–93	69,200,000
1993–94	60,900,000
1994–95	12,500,000
1995–96	6,000,000
1996–97	9,300,000
1997–98	1,000,000
1998–99	1,600,000
1999–2000	2,500,000
2000–01	0
2001–02	2,000,000
2002–03	2,100,000
2003–04	2,100,000
2004–05	2,200,000
Total	244,900,000

 
25 Oct 2005 : Column 298W
 

DTI capital grant programmes

	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	Total
Biomass (DTI and Lottery spend)	—	10,000	1,913,000	1,923,000
Offshore Wind Capital Grants	—	0	15,000,000	15,000,000
Clear Skies Community Renewables	200,000	1,387,000	2,413,000	3,800,000
Major PV Demo Programme	960,000	2,880,000	6,450,000	9,330,000
Grand total	1,160,000	4,277,000	25,776,000	30,053,000

DEFRA CHP programme

	£
1990–91	300,000
1991–92	300,000
1992–93	300,000
1993–94	400,000
1994–95	500,000
1995–96	500,000
1996–97	700,000
1997–98	1,000,000
1998–99	1,300,000
1999–2000	1,900,000
2000–01	2,500,000
2001–02	2,800,000
2002–03	1,600,000
2003–04	2,500,000
2004–05	2,000,000
Total	18,600,000

Note: Several indirect measures of state support for CHP were introduced in 2001–02. Of those that can be enumerated, climate change levy exemption on fuel inputs to Good Quality CHP and good quality CHP electricity outputs were valued at up to £80 million per annum, while eligibility for Enhanced Capital Allowances is worth in the region of £10 million per annum to the industry. Capital grants for Community Energy programme schemes were introduced in 2002–03 and the spend on schemes including CHP was: £427,000 in 2002–03, £4,315,000 in 2003–04 and £4,896,000 in 2004–05.





 
25 Oct 2005 : Column 300W
 

Research Council spend

Programme area	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Biofuel	0	0	0	21,540	51,545
Biomass	446,665	870,970	736,434	600,811	700,790
CHP	4,382	36,297	63,210	77,166	267,313
CO 2 sequestration	0	0	0	22,544	41,589
Fuel cells	887,584	1,011,524	703,128	898,637	1,145,076
Hydrogen	30,348	135,531	59,169	82,976	318,500
Solar	1,439,835	1,286,000	1,076,000	1,134,000	1,130,000
Photovoltaic	2,254,756	3,001,835	2,759,517	2,991,977	3,536,428
Wave and tidal	0	157,000	175,000	300,599	605,693
Wind	199,847	225,903	177,716	260,596	330,283
Wind/solar(29)	0	21,000	21,000	100,000	0
Wind/wave(30)	0	28,000	28,000	28,000	28,000
Waste	66,012	9,985	39,652	39,962	95,718
Geothermal	0	0	0	40,493	64,550
Storage	325,808	649,899	669,617	837,918	888,602
Networks	1,347,678	1,167,695	1,081,132	919,165	1,114,793
Total renewable	7,002,915	8,601,639	7,589,576	8,356,384	10,318,881
Conventional	331,072	103,266	107,890	549,220	1,120,493
Fission power	42,111	81,228	61,793	127,562	324,879
Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Innovation	1,732,072	1,854,776	1,693,629	1,400,400	1,671,465
Other and General	0	13,000	303,000	670,000	602,000
Fusion	16,600,000	12,600,000	14,300,000	17,000,000	14,400,000
Total	25,708,169	23,253,909	24,055,888	28,103,566	28,437,717

Programme area	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	Total
Biofuel	143,990	134,929	92,325	444,329
Biomass	783,026	1,042,526	1,186,257	6,367,479
CHP	356,756	225,905	70,791	1,101,820
CO 2 sequestration	77,787	30,323	42,461	214,704
Fuel cells	1,468,042	1,193,165	917,608	8,224,764
Hydrogen	516,560	1,494,155	1,495,130	4,132,369
Solar	1,157,000	1,453,023	1,753,334	10,429,192
Photovoltaic	2,770,354	2,381,044	2,761,866	22,457,777
Wave and tidal	616,694	830,226	1,050,253	3,735,465
Wind	490,447	481,572	255,672	2,422,036
Wind/solar(29)	0	0	0	142,000
Wind/wave(30)	28,000	28,000	28,000	196,000
Waste	124,826	169,024	154,474	699,653
Geothermal	63,550	73,460	79,429	321,482
Storage	809,871	730,182	499,536	5,411,433
Networks	1,388,490	1,804,749	2,463,125	11,286,827
Total renewable	10,795,392	12,072,282	12,850,259	—
Conventional	1,349,380	1,252,582	1,627,554	6,441,457
Fission power	307,195	212,239	125,453	1,282,460
Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Innovation	1,979,554	1,211,881	2,914,276	14,458,053
Other and General	665,000	762,000	1,944,000	4,959,000
Fusion	14,600,000	15,630,000	19,530,000	124,660,000
Total	29,696,521	31,140,985	38,991,541	—

Note:
Prior to 1997 data on Research Council expenditure was not collated in a way which is comparable to post 1997 expenditure.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department spent on research into renewable energy technologies in (a) 2005 and (b) each of the previous five years. [17902]

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI spend on renewable technologies for the six years from 1999–2000 to 2004–05 is set out in the following table.
DTI new and renewable energy programme—external spend for each technology area by financial year from 1990–91

rounded to nearest £000
Programme area	Spend
	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	Total
Bio wastes	25,000	56,000	13,000	42,000	259,000		395,000
Biomass	1,585,000	1,267,000	1,333,000	1,595,000	1,346,000	974,222	8,100,222
Embedded generation	596,000	589,000	776,000	1,424,000	725,000	1,105,640	5,215,640
Fuel cells	1,168,000	1,410,000	1,249,000	1,200,000	1,701,000	4,907,430	11,635,430
Geothermal—aquifers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Geothermal—hot dry rocks	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hydro	138,000	60,000	130,000	200,000	85,000	0	613,000
Solar	127,8000	126,4000	152,2000	4,485,000	3,131,000	1,970,340	13,650,340
Tidal	0	27,000	305,000	1,996,000	2,914,000	1,268,530	6,510,530
Wave	11,000	331,000	662,000	748,000	2,104,000		3,856,000
Wind	801,000	913,000	1,248,000	1,428,000	1,395,000	1,459,600	7,244,600
Total	5,602,000	5,917,000	7,238,000	13,118,000	13,660,000	11,685,762	57,220,762

Notes:
1. From 2000–01, figures do not include spend on contracts placed direct by DTI.
2. For 2004–05, highlighted cells show a combined spend for the two areas.
3. It has not been possible to collate expenditure on oil and gas research in the time available.





 
25 Oct 2005 : Column 301W
 

£

DTI capital grant programmes	2002–03	2003–4	2004–5	Total
Biomass (DTI and lottery spend)	—	10,000	1,913,000	1,923,000
Offshore wind capital grants	—	0	15,000,000	15,000,000
Clear skies community renewables	200,000	1,387,000	2,413,000	3,800,000
Major PV demo programme	960,000	2,880,000	6,450,000	9,330,000
Total	1,160,000	4,277,000	25,776,000	30,053,000

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to extend the current programme of funding for the renewable energy industry for another 12 months. [19541]

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's main support mechanism for renewables is the Renewables Obligation (RO), which was introduced in April 2002. It is a market-based mechanism, designed primarily to support technologies that are close to the market and it will remain in place until 2027. Electricity supply companies are required to source an increasing percentage of their electricity sales from eligible renewable sources. The obligation for 2005–06 is 5.5 per cent. rising to 15.4 per cent. by 2015. The Government have also allocated around £500 million of support for research, development and demonstration into renewable technologies between 2002–08.

There are a range of specific programmes which are currently running which will continue into next year including:

the EPSRC-led ongoing energy research programme which supports academic research into energy technologies including renewables.

Industry-led collaborative R and D delivered through the Technology Programme. Renewable technologies have featured in all calls since the programme's inception, though technologies supported in each call are prioritised by the independent Technology Strategy Board. The programme will support a range of projects in renewables in 2006.

Expenditure on bioenergy and offshore wind capital grants programmes will continue in 2006.

The DTI is currently developing a £50 million marine deployment fund which is expected to be operational by 2006.

The DTI has extended the Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme (PV MDP) with £31 million worth of capital grants available from 2002 to 2006. Continued support for PV will be directed through the low carbon buildings programme due to be implemented in financial year 2006–07. The programme is currently under development after consultation.

 
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Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent on the testing of wave and tidal technology projects in each of the last five years. [19543]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Details of spend on wave and tidal technology projects for each of the last five years are set out in the tables.
DTI new and renewable energy programme—external spend for wave and tidal technology by financial year from 2000–01 to2004–05⁽²⁹⁾

	Amount (£)
2000–01	358,000
2001–02	967,000
2002–03	2,744,000
2003–04	(30)6,218,000
2004–05	1,268,530

⁽²⁹⁾ Rounded to the nearest £000.
⁽³⁰⁾ Includes £1.2 million grant to the European Marine Energy Centre, Orkney.



Research Council spend—external spend for wave and tidal technology by financial year from 2000–01 to 2004–05⁽³¹⁾

	Amount (£)
2000–01	300,599
2001–02	605,693
2002–03	616,694
2003–04	830,226
2004–05	1,050,253

⁽³¹⁾ Rounded to the nearest £000.
Note:
The figures do not include support for wave and tidal technology research and development and demonstration provided through the devolved Administrations, Carbon Trust or Regional Development Agency initiatives.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of solar power. [19593]

 
25 Oct 2005 : Column 303W
 

Malcolm Wicks: Support for the development of PV ranges from encouraging innovation in research and development to stimulating the market for PV systems.

This is being achieved through:

Collaborative research and development (R&D) programme of approximately £2.5 million per annum; last year the DTI allocated just over £2.7 million.

£10 million already committed through Domestic and Large Scale Field Trials for a diverse set of PV installations from homes to offices.

Extended Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme (PV MDP) with £31 million worth of capital grants available from 2002 to 2006. Continued support for PV will be directed through the low carbon buildings programme due to be implemented in financial year 2006–07. The programme is currently under development after consultation.

Ministerial initiatives to encourage UK and foreign companies to invest in PV cell, module and system component manufacture in the UK, resulting in Romag and Sharp announcements in October 2003, and launch of integrated products such as the Marley Solar Tile and Solar Century's C21 PV root tile.

Addressing planning, installer accreditation, network connection and metering issues through the work of various government-industry groups.

Work with the IEA and the UK currently leads on Task 9 Photovoltaic Services for Developing Countries".

The DTI funded Clear Skies Programme provides grants for householders and community/not-for-profit organisations for the installation of solar hot water heating systems, www.clear-skies.org. This programme was extended to run until March 2006 and will also be superseded by the new low carbon buildings programme.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the (a) grants and (b) amounts available for the installation of domestic (i) solar-thermal panels, (ii) photovoltaics, (iii) wind micro-generators and (iv) other small-scale greenhouse gas emission-saving devices; and what grants have been available in each of the past five years. [19741]

Malcolm Wicks: For the installation of domestic scale photovoltaics, grants have been available since 2002 under the DTI's Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme, for up to 50 per cent. of installation costs up to a maximum installation of 5kw. www.solarpvgrants.co.uk. The following caps for cost per kWp installed were introduced during the programme:

	KWp (£)
From June 2003:
Bolt-on	3,000
Integrated	4,250
From 19 July 2004:
Bolt-on	2,800
Integrated	4,000
Semi-integrated	3,400
Glass/glass	5,000
From 1 March 2005:
Bolt-on	2,500
Integrated	3,500
Semi-integrated	3,000
Glass/glass	5,000

 
25 Oct 2005 : Column 304W
 

The DTI has £10 million already committed through Domestic and Large Scale Field Trials for a diverse set of PV installations from homes to offices.

Under the DTI's Clear Skies programme, which was launched in January 2003 the following grants have been available for domestic installations:

Solar water heating—£400 regardless of size. This was reduced from £500 in July 2004.

Wind—£1,000 per kw installed up to a maximum of £5,000.

Hydro—£1,000 per kw installed up to a maximum of £5,000.

Ground source Heat Pumps—£1,200 regardless of size.

Room heaters/stoves with automated wood pellet feed—£600 regardless of size.

Wood fuelled boiler systems—£1,500 regardless of size.

www.clear-skies.org

No domestic grants were available in the last five years prior to these programmes.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent research he has evaluated on the use of wave technology for energy generation; and if he will make a statement. [20361]

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI supports research into the use of wave technology for energy generation under its Technology Programme www.dti.gov.uk/technologyprogramme.

The most recent call for proposals under the Technology Programme was in April 2005 when a total of eight proposals for wave technology research were received and evaluated. Wave technology will also be a priority area in the next call of the Technology Programme.

Pre-commercial multi-device demonstrations will also be supported under the £50 million Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.

Wave technology is also covered through Carbon Trust programmes, such as the Marine Energy Challenge and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's Supergen Marine Consortium.

Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the projected maximum practicable percentage contribution is to United Kingdom's energy needs that can be provided by wind farms. [16413]

Malcolm Wicks: The UK has among the very best wind resources in Europe. Our view is that wind, both onshore and offshore, could easily contribute more that 10 per cent. of our electricity needs. Work undertaken by NGC indicates that 10 per cent. wind could be accommodated on the UK's transmission system with little additional cost or difficulty. Beyond that, NGC's work also indicates that 20 per cent. wind could be manageable. A view that is reinforced by experience in Denmark where wind already contributes more than 20 per cent. of electricity generation.

However, our renewable policies remain technology neutral. Our aspiration is to supply 20 per cent. of electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020. By that time we would expect other renewable technologies,
 
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such as biomass and wave and tidal, to come to the fore particularly as the balancing and wider system costs associated with wind are likely to increase as connected wind generation is increased.

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