§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is sponsoring any research into the use of solar energy to decompose water and produce hydrogen for use as an energy source; and if his Department has studied Japanese research in this field.
§ Mr. John MooreMy Department is not supporting any work into this technique, which is at the fundamental R & D stage. Generation of hydrogen by the photolytic decomposition of water is recognised to be an inefficient process: this route is not expected to make any contribution to our energy supplies.
My Department is aware of Japanese work in this field.