HC Deb 24 July 1989 vol 157 cc567-8W
24. Mr. Morley

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to review the non-fossil fuel quota in the light of the study of renewable electrical energy potential in the north-west of England carried out by NORWEB and the energy technology support unit, Harwell.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The Government recently announced their intention to reserve a privileged place for renewables within the non-fossil fuel obligation. This will be done by setting special extra tranches of capacity which can be filled only by renewable forms of energy. The proposed levels of the tranches will be kept under review to ensure that when the obligations are laid they take fully into account the potential availability of renewable capacity. There is no need for further review at present.

27. Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the recently completed study of the renewable energy resource potential in the north-west of England carried out by NORWEB and the energy technology support, unit, Harwell.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The report and the accompanying overview report were published on 6 July. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

44. Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the next regions to be studied by the energy technology support unit at Harwell for renewable electrical energy potential.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The potential for the use of renewable energy was assessed for the country as a whole and published in "Energy Paper 55". Since then two further studies considering electricity generation have been published; the "Cornwall Energy Project" by Cornwall county council and "Prospects for Renewable Energy in the Norweb Area" by the North Western electricity board and the energy technology support unit. No other specific proposals are in hand at present, but it is hoped that other electricity boards will follow Norweb's lead.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has evaluated which renewable energy projects currently being developed or studied by the energy technology support unit at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, might prove suitable for export to(a) the Indian sub-continent and African states and (b) European Economic Community member states.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The Department's programme on renewable energy is focused primarily on the development of commercially viable and environmentally acceptable renewable technologies for the United Kingdom. Although at an early stage of development, many of the Department's projects could lead to products suitable for export to both industrialised and less well-developed countries. The United Kingdom is already involved in collaboration or information exchanges in a number of areas.

Many of the technologies being examined as part of the Department's R and D programme should offer considerable export potential for United Kingdom industry.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the energy technology support unit, Harwell's, medium-term and long-term projects for renewable electrical energy generation in the North West of England.

Mr. Michael Spicer

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney) earlier today.