HC Deb 28 February 1972 vol 832 cc4-6W
43. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what electricity generation megawatts-installed was derived from, respectively, coal, oil, nuclear and miscellaneous sources on 1st January, 1972, or latest convenient date, under four headings; and what generation changes will occur in the Central Electricity Generating Board's arrangements for 1972–73 as authorised by him.

Sir J. Eden

The C.E.G.B. informs me that on 1st January, 1972, its maximum output capacity was:

C.E.G.B., Maximum Output Capacity (G.W.)
Coal-fired 37.5
Oil-fired 10.0
Nuclear 3.3
Miscellaneous 2.8 (a)
Total 53.6

(a) Includes pumped storage, gas turbines, hydro, diesel, gas-firing etc. All dual-fired capacity has been allocated to Coal. Oil or Miscellaneous according to the fuel in use on 1st January, 1972.

During 1972 the Board expects to commission about 3.5 GW of plant (two-thirds coal-fired, one-third oil-fired); convert 2 GW of plant from coal to

ELECTRICITY GENERATION
(i) United Kingdom: Output capacity at end of 1971 (partly estimated)
Public Supply Other Total
GW Percentage of total GW GW Percentage of total
Nuclear … … … 3.6 5.8 0.5 4.1 6.1
Hydro-electric … … … 2.0 3.2 0.1 2.1 3.2
Coal fired … … … 39.3 63.4 4.2 60.6 90.7
Coal/oil fired … … … 3.5 5.6
Oil fired … … … 10.0 16.1
Gas fired … … … 0.4 0.7
Coal/gas fired … … … 1.2 2.0
Other … … … 2.0 3.2
Total … … … 62.0 100.0 4.8 66.8 100.0
Percentage of total … 92.8 7.2 100.0

(ii) European Economic Community: Installed capacity at end of 1970
Public Supply GW Auto Producers GW Total GW Percentage of Total
Nuclear … … … … … 3.4 — 3.4 2.4
Hydro-electric … … … … … 33.1* 3.2* 36.3 25.2
Coal fired … … … … … 28.9 15.9 44.8 31.1
Coal/oil fired … … … … … 14.4 2.4 16.8 11.6
Oil fired … … … … … 15.3 5.6 20.9 14.5
Gas fired … … … … … 1.5 2.8 4.3 3.0
Coal/gas fired … … … … … 1.2 3.1 4.3 3.0
Oil/gas fired … … … … … 7.0 2.7 9.7 6.7
Coal/oil/gas fired … … … … … 1.8 0.7 2.5 1.7
Geothermal … … … … … 0.4† — 0.4 0.3
Not specified … … … … … — 0.7 0.7 0.5
Total … … … … … 107.0 37.1 144.1 100.0
* Estimated.
† Taken as public supply.

coal/oil (1GW) and coal to coal/gas (1 GW) firing; and to take out of service about 0.3 GW of old, mainly coal-fired, plant. Information on installed capacity by fuels is not readily available and maximum output capacity, which is equivalent to installed capacity less electricity used in the works, is therefore quoted.

57. Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest generating capacity of the British electricity industry; and if he will break this capacity down into coal fired, coal or oil fired, oil fired, nuclear, hydroelectric, and miscellaneous gas turbine and stated by capacity owned by industry, and express this breakdown as a percentage of the total capacity, respectively, indicating how this compares with the capacity and breakdown in the European Economic Community.

Sir J. Eden

The information is as follows: