HC Deb 17 December 1984 vol 70 cc27-8W
32. Mr. Burt

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on experiments currently funded by his Department in the field of wind power.

Mr. David Hunt

My Department is funding the construction of a 3-megawatt, 60-metre diameter wind turbine on Orkney and a novel 25-metre diameter vertical axis machine at Carmarthen bay, together with supporting research. Studies carried out by the Department show that wind power seems to be one of the most attractive renewable sources for generating electricity. We therefore intend to continue research and development to find out how large, and how cost-effective, a contribution it could make to electricity supply in Britain.