§ 52. Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Energy what studies he is undertaking in his Department, or commissioning externally, into the prospects of generating electricity economically by use of tidal barrages; and what are his preliminary conclusions.
§ Mr. StrangAs I told my hon. Friend the Member for Preston, North (Mr. Atkins) yesterday, officials have recently reassessed the economic feasibility of the Severn Barrage scheme and have concluded that, despite the increase in fuel prices, it could not be competitive with alternative sources of power. The position is being kept under review.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will outline the nature and the cost of all research and development projects which he is currently supporting into the thermionic generation of electricity and into the thermo-electric generation of electricity, respectively; and what are his conclusions regarding the further development of either method as a potential economic method of generating electricity for the British market.
§ Mr. StrangThe Department of Energy is not currently supporting any research on either thermionic or thermo-electric generation. Investigations by the CEGB some years ago revealed severe technical problems and the limited prospective benefits did not justify the continuation of the work. It is the Department's view,82W based on a recent internal study and a knowledge of work in progress in other countries, that the increase in fuel prices has not invalidated this concluion.