§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the most recent forecasts of the contribution bio-fuels are expected to make to energy production from renewable energy sources.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 28 February 1994]: The Department of Trade and Industry does not make forecasts 629W of the contribution any renewables are expected to make to energy production. The Government are working towards a figure of 1500 MW of new electricity generating capacity from renewable energy sources. The renewable energy advisory group report, published in November 1992 as Energy Paper 60—HMSO, ISBN 0 11 414287 4, £15.95—copies of which are in the Libraries of both Houses, gave estimates of the potential for each renewable source of energy and the assumptions on which these estimates were based. Ultimately, the contribution from renewables depends on how competitive they are and whether constraints on their exploitation can be overcome. For example, the waste contracting policy of the waste disposal authorities will largely determine whether municipal wastes are available for beneficial use by energy recovery.