Renewable Energy (Hansard, 27 March 1995)

§ Mr. Colvin
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list of the measures his Department has taken to encourage greater use of renewable energy following the Government's acceptance of the conclusions and recommendations of the United Nation conference on the environment and development. [15655]

§ Mr. Wallace
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures his Department proposes to encourage greater use of renewable energy in pursuance of the Government's support for the declarations and undertakings made at the Rio climate summit in 1992. [15518]

§ Mr. Page
The Government are stimulating the development of new and renewable energy sources and industrial and market infrastructure through a market enablement strategy. The strategy was published as "Energy Paper 62" in March 1994.
The strategy's principal measure involves stimulating an initial market for electricity-producing technologies close to commercial competitiveness via renewables orders made under the non-fossil fuel obligation. Other measures are aimed at assessing and developing technology options, ensuring that the market is fully informed, removing inappropriate market barriers and encouraging internationally competitive industries to develop.
The first and the second renewables orders set an obligation of renewables-sourced electricity for approximately 600 MW. The Government announced a third renewables order, for 626.92 MW, in December 1994. They expect this to lead to a further 300 to 400 MW of new capacity.
The Government intend to work, through the NFFO, towards a figure of 1,500 MW of new renewable electricity generating capacity in the UK by the year 2000, 405W thus contributing to the UK's international environmental commitment.

§ Mr. Frank Cook
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures his Department is taking as a result of the declaration of Madrid "An Action Plan for Renewable Sources in Europe", 16 to 18 March 1994; and if his Department is taking part in the proposed EC discussions on renewable energy. [15966]

§ Mr. Page
A Department of Trade and Industry representative attended the conference on renewable energy in Madrid in March 1994 and my Department is monitoring developments with regard to the establishment of the EU's European Forum on Renewable Energies—EUFORES.
The Government are stimulating the development of new and renewable energy sources and industrial and market infrastructure through a market enablement strategy. The strategy was published as "Energy Paper 62" in March 1994.
The strategy's principal measure involves stimulating an initial market for electricity-producing technologies close to commercial competitiveness via renewables orders made under the non-fossil fuel obligation. Other measures are aimed at assessing and developing technology options, ensuring that the market is fully informed, removing inappropriate market barriers and encouraging internationally competitive industries to develop.
The first and the second renewables orders set an obligation of renewables-sourced electricity for approximately 600MW. The Government announced a third renewables order, for 626.92MW, in December 1994. They expect this to lead to a further 300 to 400MW of new capacity.
The Government intend to work, through the NFFO, towards a figure of 1,500MW of new renewable electricity generating capacity in the UK by the year 2000, thus contributing to the UK's international environmental commitment.