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Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent in each year since 1980 on the research and development of (a) tidal power, (b) wind power, (c) geothermal power, (d) hydro power, (e) solar power and (f) nuclear fusion; and what further sums are planned to be spent. [36596]

Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 12 December 2005]: 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 the DTI and Research Council expenditure on new, renewable, and nuclear research and development. These are set out in the following tables.

Further spend on all of these technologies will be in line with the Government's objectives.
 
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DTI New and Renewable Energy Programme—External spend for each technology area by financial year from 1990–91 Rounded to nearest thousand

Programme area	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Geothermal-Aquifers	-8,000	55,000	130,000	143,000	0	0	0	0
Geothermal-Hot Dry Rocks	2,579,000	1567,000	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
Nuclear	—	73,500,000	69,200,000	60,900,000	12,500,000	6,000,000	9,300,000	1,000,000

Programme area	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Geothermal-Aquifers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Geothermal-Hot Dry Rocks	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hydro	80,000	138,000	60,000	130,000	200,000	85,000	0
Solar	983,000	1,278,000	1,264,000	1,522,000	4,485,000	3,131,000	1,970,340
Tidal	0	0	27,000	305,000	1,996,000	2,914,000	1,268,530
Wave	91,000	11,000	331,000	662,000	748,000	2,104,000	0
Wind	950,000	801,000	913,000	1,248,000	1,428,000	1,395,000	1,459,600
Nuclear	1,600,000	2,500,000	0	2,000,000	2,100,000	2,100,000	2,200,000

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





Research council spend

Research area	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–4	2004–5
Wind	178,000	261,000	330,000	490,000	482,000	256,000
Wave and tidal	175,000	301,000	606,000	617,000	830,000	1,050,000
Biomass	736,000	601,000	701,000	783,000	1,043,000	1,186,000
Biofuel	0	22,000	52,000	144,000	135,000	92,000
Photovoltaic	2,760,000	2,992,000	3,536,000	2,770,000	2,381,000	2,762,000
Solar	1,076,000	1,134,000	1,130,000	1,157,000	1,453,000	1,753,000

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what comparative analysis has been undertaken on (a) the impact on carbon footprints and (b) the cost effectiveness of (i) new renewable energy schemes and (ii) carbon sequestation technology. [38897]

Malcolm Wicks: The 2003 Energy White Paper published the results of extensive modelling of the costs of different options for reducing carbon dioxide emissions over the period to 2050. The analysis is available at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/phase2.pdf.

In November 2005 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that there would be a review of energy policy which would report in summer 2006. This will involve further analysis of the costs of different options for meeting the Government's long-term targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by his Department into the long-term impact of burying sequestered carbon. [38898]

Malcolm Wicks: We published two reports on Carbon Sequestration and the results of these can be found in The Review of Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK" and The Carbon Abatement Technology (CAT) Strategy for Fossil Fuel Use", both of which can be found in the
 
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Libraries of the House. Both reports can also be found on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/cfft/co2capture/review.pdf, and http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/cfft/cct/pub/catreportlinked.pdf.

The supporting analysis underpinning the Carbon Abatement Technology Strategy which can be found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/cfft/cct/pub/pdfs/r301.pdf provides the work to date on predicting the impact of deploying this technology. Further work on this area is planned as part of the CAT Strategy.

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department has spent in direct subsidies to (a) renewable energy generation and (b) nuclear energy generation for each year since 1990. [38974]

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Leominister (Bill Wiggin) on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2262W.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a detailed feasibility study has been carried out to establish whether the recommendation in his Department's Buildings Renewable Strategy report to install renewable energy technologies in each of the
 
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Department's buildings is achievable; and whether the other recommendations in the report have been implemented. [39228]

Alan Johnson: Work to investigate the feasibility of the renewable energy technology and low carbon options suggested within the Carbon Trust report is now in hand.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a budget has been set for the applications of renewable and low carbon technologies for his Department's buildings. [39229]

Alan Johnson: Any costs involved in such work are an integral part of the capital works programme on the DTI HQ estate and therefore no separate budgetary allowance has been made.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's targets are for increased use of renewable fuels for energy generation; and if he will make a statement. [35377]

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have a target that 10 per cent. of the UK's electricity supply should come from Renewable Obligation (RO) eligible source of renewable energy by 2010, with an aspiration to double that by 2020.

In 2004, 3.1 per cent. of the UK's electricity supply came from RO eligible sources of renewable energy.

Rhyl Flats Wind Farm

Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the proposed Rhyl Flats wind farm is to be located on the Constable Bank. [39960]

Malcolm Wicks: The position of the wind farm could be described as being on the north eastern edge of Constable Bank but it is difficult to define the boundaries of this or any other sea bed feature precisely as they change with time. It is, therefore, best to define the location of the wind farm by fixed co-ordinates rather than its position relative to, what could be, mobile sea bed features.

The impact of the Rhyl Flats project in relation to the Constable Bank and other marine features was fully considered by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and others in agreeing that the various consents for the project should be granted.

Small Business Service

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to enable the regional development agencies to take over the responsibilities of the Small Business Service. [36708]

Alun Michael: The Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) took over local and regional management of Business Link from the Small Business Service on 1 April 2005. The Small Business Service has a much wider role of promoting enterprise and small business development, including working across government to
 
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ensure that the UK is the best place in the world to start and grow a business. It is also responsible for promoting social enterprise.

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