HC Deb 07 March 1977 vol 927 cc416-7W
29. Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what support his Department is providing for the development of the fluidised-bed combustion process.

Mr. Eadie

My Department is prepared to contribute up to £3.75 million to a research project estimated to cost £16.9 million over eight years to develop towards commercial application the pressurised fluidised-bed combustion of coal for steam raising. The project is being carried out at Grimethorpe in Yorkshire under the auspices of the International Energy Agency with the NCB (IEA Services Ltd.) as operating agent.

The project was started about 15 months ago, and its first two phases have been completed with the United Kingdom, USA and German Federal Republic participating, and each bearing one-third of the total costs. The United Kingdom share has been divided between my Department an dthe NCB in the proportion 2:1. My Department's estimated contribution mentioned above assumes that this basis of participation and funding will continue.