HL Deb 25 March 1982 vol 428 cc1144-5WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the controversy over the siting of the proposed nuclear power station in Dorset, consideration has been or will be given to building combined heat and power stations in some or all of the major towns of the South-West; and whether CHP stations such as already exist at Hereford would not reduce transmission losses as well as being more efficient and more environmentally appropriate, when fired by oil, coal or wood.

The Earl of Mansfield

The overall economics of any combined heat and power scheme will depend upon a number of factors of which the most critical is the availability of an adequate heat load within reach of a suitable power station site. The electricity supply industry is willing to consider the possible economic advantages of CHP schemes, whether in the South-West or elsewhere. The industry is also helping the Department of Energy in its programme of work to investigate the most promising sites for CHP and district heating, although no cities or towns in the South-West have applied to participate in the possible lead city scheme.