§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State of Energy if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the maximum power output available in the United Kingdom assuming use of all existing power stations by means of (i) coal (ii) oil/gas (iii) nuclear and (iv) hydro, (b) the additional power projected as available in the feasibility studies tidal barrages at (1) Severn (2) Mersey (3) Solway and (4) Morecambe and (c) the average and maximum demands for power in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe information is as follows:
(a) Plant capacity of the public electricity supply industry at the end of 1985 Capacity Megawatts sent out (i) Coal fired stations 36,672 (ii) Oil/gas* 14,354 (iii) Nuclear 6,399 (iv) Conventional hydro 1,295 (v) Pumped storage 2,788 (vi) Dual/mixed firing 2,286 Total declared capability 63,794 Output available† 54,225 * Includes conventional oil fired steam raising, gas turbine and diesel plant. † Assuming notional availability of 85 per cent, (actual availabilities in each category at the time will have differed from this figure, which is used in planning). The public electricity supply industry also imports small amounts of power from stations operated by others; no allowance for this is made in the table. Reserve capacity is excluded from the total.
(b) Power projected as available from tidal barrages* Power Megawatts (i) Severn 7,200 (ii) Mersey 621 (iii) Solway Firth 7,200 (iv) Morecambe Bay 3,000 Total output rating 18,021 Firm capacity credit† 2,753 * Sources: Severn Barrage Committee Report 1981 except for Mersey, from the Merseyside County Council Report 1986. † Includes a calculation which takes into account that demand may occur at any state of the tide, on which capability depends.
(c) Average and maximum demands for power on the public electricity supply system in the last three years Megawatts Average Maximum 1983 27,813 48,595 1984 28,345 52,970 1985 29,879 52,255