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26 Nov 2008 : Column 2147W—continued
Following the announcement in Budget 2008, energy suppliers agreed in April, to increase how much they are spending on social programmes. This year they will be spending collectively £100 million, rising to £125 million in 2009-10 and £150 million in 2010-11. Suppliers have only provided forecast numbers for the first time for 2008, which shows around 600,000 customer accounts are expected to be on social tariffs this winter. The actual number of customer accounts on social tariffs during the first year of the voluntary agreement will be published in Ofgem’s next reporting cycle in 2009.
Ofgem will shortly be publishing a report on suppliers’ social programmes, which will show the number of customer accounts, by each supplier, on social tariffs, to the end of March 2008.
Energy: Manpower
Mr. Hoban:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) Civil Service support
and (b) office space will be given to the special representative on international energy issues; and what expenses the representative will be able to claim. [229195]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Special Representative of the Prime Minister on International Energy Issues will support me and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and will receive support from my Department in his role. He will be entitled to claim reasonable travel and subsistence expenses incurred as part of his work.
Energy: Meters
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to decide on the roll-out of the smart meter programme; and if he will make a statement. [227383]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government announced on 28 October their plan to roll out smart meters to all domestic customers, 28 October 2008, Official R eport, House of Lords, column 1515, along with an indicative timetable of around two years to design and establish the full details of a roll-out followed by a ten year roll-out period.
In the Budget 2008 the Government announced the roll-out of advanced metering to larger business customers over a five-year period, beginning early in 2009. A consultation on the provision of smart and advanced metering for remaining businesses customers closed on 17 October. The Government will respond soon.
Energy: Per Capita Costs
Mr. Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average annual cost per domestic energy consumer of the subsidies provided by his Department to the renewable energy sector. [230028]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 28 October 2008]: The Government's main mechanism for supporting renewable generation is the Renewables Obligation (RO). Ofgem, who administer the RO, have calculated the annual cost of the RO for 2008-09 to be around £10 per customer. This information, along with details of other measures to tackle climate change, can be found at:
Environment Protection: European Parliament Members
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the environmental effects of travel by MEPs and officials from Brussels to Strasbourg for plenary sessions of the European Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [239820]
Joan Ruddock:
Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Commissioners and officials in the European Commission on a range of topics. In particular, at present negotiations are continuing on the Commission’s
Climate and Energy Package which will deliver the 2020 emissions reductions targets agreed at the 2007 spring European Council. The environmental effects of all travel within the EU will be addressed once the package is agreed.
Environmental Transformation Fund
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what projects have received funding from the Environmental Transformation Fund since its inception. [236598]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: DECC provides capital grant and other funding for the demonstration and pre-commercial deployment of low carbon and renewable energy technologies under the Environmental Transformation Fund, which has a budget of £400 million over the 2008-11 CSR period. A number of existing BERR and DEFRA programmes were brought into the Environmental Transformation Fund when it started operating on 1 April 2008. The answer lists projects that were running on or after 1 April 2008 when the ETF was formally created.
The ETF is funding two ongoing Biomass projects: Eccleshall Biomass, Farming for Energy; and Balcas Limited.
The ETF is funding one carbon abatement technologies capital project. This is a demonstration of a 40 MW Oxyfuel combustion system at Doosan Babcock's Renfrew facility. Work on the project started in September 2007 and is expected to run until 2012.
The ETF is funding the following carbon abatement technologies resource projects:
Advanced Materials for low Emission Power plant: Development of UGG for Power Generation;
A Study of the Reaction Chemistry in the production of hydrogen from coal using a novel process concept;
A study of the release of trace elements during combustion and gasification under conditions relevant to power technology in China;
Development of a UK Capability for Monitoring and Verification of CO2 Geological Storage within the EC—(CO2ReMoVe);
Development of a UK Capability for Long-Term Performance Assessment of CO2 Geological Storage within the CO2GeoNet Network of excellence—(CO2GeoNet);
Development of a UK Capability for Long-Term Performance Assessment of CO2 Geological Storage within the EC-(CO2RemoVe);
Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Guidelines for CCS under EU ETS—Extension of Methodology to Enhanced Oil Recovery;
Chinese Advanced Power Plant Carbon Capture Options (CAPPCCo); and
UK-China Cooperation for Technology Transfer to Establish the Co-Utilisation of Waste Biomass with Coal.
In addition to the above we are providing funding to British Coal Utilisation Research Association Limited (BCURA) which amounts to £256,000 between 2008 and 2011. This money goes to BCURA to help in their role alongside industry in funding R and D projects in universities. There are currently 11 projects running which are being funded by BCURA. Our arrangement with BCURA will come to an end in 2011.
The hydrogen and fuel cell projects that have received funding from the Environmental Transformation Fund since its inception are:
Remote welfare cabin (Voller);
London Bus Services Ltd—buses;
Penner Road CHP (Scottish and Southern Energy); and
Microcab demonstration for zero emission campus.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1
The following projects have received funding under Phase 1 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme since April 2008.
| Organisation Name | Technologies |
The following numbers of grants have been paid to householders since April 2008.
| Technology | Number |
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