§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what amount, expressed in terms of megawatts, the generators of electricity would have to be reduced in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to the equivalent required by the climate change levy. [107919]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe climate change levy is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 2MtC a year, before including the effect of negotiated agreements. If a 2MtC saving were to be brought about through reductions in electricity generation, this could be achieved either through a reduction of 21 terawatt hours in gas fired generation or 9 terawatt hours in coal fired generation. This would be broadly equivalent to the loss of all output from 3000MW of gas fired plant otherwise operating at a load factor of 80 per cent., or 2000MW of coal fired plant operating at just over 50 per cent. load factor.