HC Deb 25 May 2004 vol 421 cc1566-7W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Government's energy policy takes account of the cost estimated by Ofgem of reinforcing the transmission grid in order to cope with the scale of wind farm development envisaged. [174804]

Mr. Timms

The Government have already undertaken a significant amount of analysis both prior to and after the 2003 Energy White Paper on the costs associated with incorporating increasing amounts of renewable generation into the electricity network.

We believe the right framework is in place to deliver the reinforcement of the transmission grid needed to support the Government's energy policy objectives. The transmission operators are responding to the increased level of demand for connections to the system from renewable energy generators. The market is regulated by Ofgem to ensure that investment in new transmission infrastructure is cost efficient and the consumer is protected from the consequences of unnecessary transmission expenditure. In addition, the industry is working to ensure that wind and other renewable generation connection to the system in future will have the characteristics necessary to maintain the integrity of the electricity networks.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Government's energy policy for large-scale intermittent wind power generation addresses the diseconomy of part-time operation thereby forced upon the necessary conventional back-up; and how this deterrent to back-up generation will affect the risks to security and stability. [174807]

Mr. Timms

Although wind generation is undoubtedly less predictable and more intermittent than conventional generation, when aggregated nationally, the implications for the operation of the electricity system are significantly mitigated. Work by the National Grid Company indicates that it will be some years before the growth in wind generation has a noticeable impact on overall reserve plant requirements, although there will come a time when additional reserve will be required.

The impact of this in reduced overall efficiency of generation and associated increase in emissions will be negligible compared with the savings in emissions realised by the operation of the wind generation itself. Nevertheless, the Government in conjunction with the electricity industry, is exploring possible means of further mitigating the effects of intermittency and unpredictability.