§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support since 1997 her Department has provided to facilitate the development of(a) geothermal, (b) wave, (c) tidal and (d) solar energy technologies. [84730]
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§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 3 December 2002]: The table provides data on the financial support given by the Department to the technologies specified since 1997. No support is given, at present, to the development of geothermal technologies; however, funding is available for grid-connected early pre-commercial wave and tidal stream projects and innovative solar photovoltaic schemes. This is, in addition, to the funding that is also available under my Department's New and Renewable Energy Programme, which calls for proposals for research and development projects that align with the long-term technology strategies developed in partnership with industry, academia and other key stakeholders.
£ million 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 Geothermal 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Wave 0.00 0.09 0.01 0.33 0.66 Tidal 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.31 Solar 1.66 0.98 1.73 1.40 2.70 The figures for support for wave and tidal in 2000–01 and 2001–02 have been revised recently.