Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is their policy to encourage the economic generation of electricity from wind power.
§ Viscount DavidsonYes, my Lords. To this end, Her Majesty's Government are supporting a comprehensive research and development programme aimed at exploiting the United Kingdom wind research for economic electricity generation. This programme, which since 1979 has cost some £20 million, has largely been directed to the development of large wind turbines for the United Kingdom grid operation and includes major projects on Orkney and Carmarthen Bay.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that welcome reply. But are the Government prepared to introduce new factors to be applied in assessing full rates for this novel kind of installation? A test case, such as the one at Ilfracombe which was mentioned in reply to my previous Question a few months ago, cannot do more than interpret the present system, which may not be relevant and may penalise enterprise and new technology.
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, local rates are of course a matter for my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. But I can tell my noble friend that he has agreed to review the position of rating of private electricity generators in response to a request from my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Energy.
§ Lord GrimondMy Lords, can the noble Viscount tell us how much electricity is now being generated by wind in Orkney and what is its cost?
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I am afraid that I cannot tell the noble Lord how much electricity is being generated. This is part of the research and development programme and it is being supported by the Government.
§ Lord StrabolgiMy Lords, can the noble Viscount not tell us what percentage of our total energy needs would come from this source? Does he not know that?
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I do not know that. If the noble Lord wants a truthful answer, that is it. But 546 what I can say is that wind energy is currently emerging as the most promising renewable energy source for generating electricity in the United Kingdom. Department of Energy assessments of the economic prospects for wind energy show that from the year 2000 generation costs could be competitive over a wide range of scenarios. We intend to continue research and development to find out how cost-effective a contribution it can make. I hope that that is a satisfactory answer.
§ Baroness NicolMy Lords, does the noble Viscount agree that however excellent the various alternatives may be there is no substitute for a good conservation policy so far as energy is concerned? Can he reassure the House that the Government's present policy of privatising energy sources will not mean that they let up on their conservation programme?
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I certainly can confirm that. I can tell the noble Baroness as well that the environmental impact of issues such as noise and visual intrusion will be studied as part of on-going research and development so that their acceptability can be assessed.
§ Lord Mackie of BenshieMy Lords, can the noble Viscount give us comparative figures for the amount of money spent on wave research? He will be able to give us, I hope, the figure spent on nuclear research since 1979. He said that we have spent £20 million on wind research.
§ Viscount DavidsonThe answer is, not without notice, my Lords.
§ Lord Gray of ContinMy Lords, does my noble friend agree with me that the total amount of contribution likely to be made by the year 2000 by alternative energy sources is in the region of 8 per cent. of our total requirement and that this is a very small contribution indeed? Does he further agree that it would be quite ridiculous to divert all our attention to alternative sources of energy when we have already successfully invested so much money in nuclear energy? Should we not be giving every possible encouragement to the nuclear industry to continue its forward march?
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I agree entirely with my noble friend, but the Question on the Order Paper is directed to the possible benefits from wind power and my view is that we must not neglect any source of alternative energy.
§ Lord EzraMy Lords, reverting to the Question on the Order Paper about wind power, may I draw the noble Viscount's attention to the important export spin-off from this technology? Have we captured any markets abroad and is there a prospect of doing more if we develop this process successfully in the UK?
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I agree entirely with the noble Lord. I do not have the figures with me, but I shall write to him.
§ Viscount MerseyMy Lords; I wonder whether my noble friend will go a little further than he did in an earlier answer that he gave. Is he anticipating that more power will be generated by wind than from tidal schemes such as the Severn barrage and indeed the Mersey barrage?
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I do not think that there is a competitive race in this. We are trying to harness all sources of energy.
Lord Cambell of CroyMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that in putting the original Question I was not suggesting that this source of energy should compete with nuclear? But is it not correct that it could make a very useful addition, even though it would be a limited proportion of the energy needed, because it is clean, it does not cause pollution and also our oil will be getting used up?
§ Viscount DavidsonYes, my Lords. I can say that wind powered generation is particularly attractive for isolated communities such as islands not connected to the grid, where it would be competing with diesel plants. This also represents a useful export potential for British manufacturers.
§ Lord Williams of ElvelMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell the House how and in what manner the Government will be reporting on the results of the research? He mentioned the year 2000, which is rather a long way away. Perhaps he can tell us whether we shall get interim reports from time to time and in what manner.
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I suggest that the best way would be to put questions down.