HC Deb 08 September 2003 vol 410 cc77-9W
Mr. Dhanda

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects of investment in renewable energy on reversing(a) climate change and (b) energy shortage. [128219]

Mr. Timms

The Energy White Paper, published earlier this year, estimated that by 2020 carbon emissions could be reduced by three to five million tonnes by achieving our aspiration of doubling the renewable share of electricity generation between 2010 and 2020. Diversification of our sources of energy supply will also contribute to increasing security of supply.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the Government's 2010 target for renewables(a) has been met and (b) is outstanding. [127193]

Mr. Timms

The information is as follows:

  1. (a) In 2002, the most recent year for which figures are available, 1.7 per cent. of our electricity came from renewable sources eligible for the Renewables Obligation. (Generation from all renewable sources, including large-scale hydro, was 3.0 per cent.)
  2. (b) The outstanding amount to reach a target of 10 per cent. of our electricity from renewables eligible for the Renewables Obligation is therefore 8.3 per cent.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what ways she is working with the Scottish Executive on targets to meet renewable energy. [127196]

Mr. Timms

The Department works closely with the Scottish Executive on renewable energy issues. There is a regular dialogue between Departments to share information and to monitor the progress that renewable energy sources are making.

The Department has responsibility for the overall UK renewable energy target of 10 per cent. of electricity supplies to be generated from renewable sources by 2010. Renewable targets set within Scotland are a matter for the devolved Administration.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in other countries in Europe on their experience in renewables. [127197]

Mr. Timms

DTI Ministers and officials regularly engage with their European counterparts on the subject of renewables through such fora as the European Commission and the International Energy Agency, as well as bilateral meetings. Most recently, I met with my European counterparts during the joint energy and environment informal meeting at Montecatini in July, organised by the Italian Presidency, where much of the focus was on renewables.

Mr. Dhanda

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to encourage electricity companies to invest in renewable energy. [128218]

Mr. Timms

The Government have introduced a range of measures to encourage electricity companies to invest in renewable energy. The recently published Energy White Paper, "Our Energy Future—Creating a Low Carbon Economy", sets out the policy on the increasing role renewable technologies will play in our overall energy policy, and highlights many of the successes that have already been achieved.

Our initial target is that 10 per cent. of the UK's electricity sales should be from renewable-sourced electricity by 2010. To help achieve the necessary growth to reach that target, we have introduced a number of initiatives: The Renewables Obligation (and associated Renewables Obligation Scotland). Introduced in April 2001, these require all licensed electricity suppliers in Great Britain to supply a specified and growing proportion of their sales from renewable sources. The Obligation is underpinned by a package of funding worth nearly £350 million, which will support our on-going New and Renewable R&D programme, and extensive programmes of capital grants for new and emerging technologies such as energy crops and other forms of bio-energy, offshore wind, solar photovoltaics, wave and tidal power.

In order to develop our offshore wind potential, last year we published a consultation entitled "Future Offshore", which sets out a strategic framework to support the development of that industry. We have announced that future development should take place in three strategically significant areas—namely the North West (including Liverpool Bay), the Greater Wash and the Thames Estuary and plan to announce next month the names of successful bidders for projects within those areas.

The Renewables UK unit to was set up last year within DTI with the specific aim of maximizing the benefits of renew ables to UK industry, and to help that industry develop.

Industrial users of renewable sourced electricity also benefit from exemption from Climate Change Levy payments.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's support for renewable energy research. [127867]

Mr. Timms

A renewables innovation review is in progress and should be completed by end November 2003. It includes an assessment of past and present support programmes. A key aim is to ensure the Department's support is targeted so as to achieve maximum effect.