HC Deb 21 February 1977 vol 926 cc1007-8
1. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what studies are being made in his Department of the reliability of large power stations—1,000 to 1,300 MW—as compared with the older smaller units.

The Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Ales Eadie)

Reliability is the subject of continuing exchanges between my Department and the CEGB.

Mr. Hooley

Would my hon. Friend agree that a move towards smaller units might reduce design and construction time, add greater flexibility to the programme of generating equipment, and possibly open the way for experimenting with combined heat and power units?

Mr. Eadie

I am advised that, even taking into account the lower availability, it is still cheaper to generate electricity from sets of from 500 MW to 660 MW than from smaller units. The choice of sites which would be necessary if we were to revert to small units could lead to additional problems.

Mr. John H. Osborn

Surely it is necessary to strike a balance. Whilst accepting the economics of larger units, even in spite of breakdowns such as those we have in Yorkshire at Drax, is it not also necessary to use heat from power stations? What studies are being made to combine both virtues?

Mr. Eadie

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. I have informed the House of this before. A study group under the Department's Chief Scientist is currently analysing the technical and economic aspects of district heating supplied from combined heat and power plants. The results of the analysis are due to be published this month.

Mr. Rost

Are not the Minister's persistent answers on this subject complacent and disappointing? What is he doing to encourage the use of the fluidised bed combustion process, which is ideally suited for smaller units combining heat and power?

Mr. Eadie

I have already given an answer about combined heat and power. I thought that that answer would elicit some expression of pleasure from the hon. Member. We have moneys under the International Energy Agency to have the fluidised bed combustion process prototype at Grimethorpe, which the whole of the energy industry welcomes.

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