§ 35. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are his present estimates of the proportion of energy needs in Great Britain which may be supplied from renewable sources in 30 years' time.
§ Dr. John CunninghamRenewable sources of energy are likely to make only a modest contribution to total energy supply before the end of the century. The recent Green Paper, "Energy Policy" (Cmnd 7101), estimates that by the year 2000 they could be contributing up to 10 million tonnes of coal equivalent a year, which is about 2 per cent. of estimated total primary fuel demand for that year. However, their contribution could well increase significantly in the first quarter of the next century.