HC Deb 13 January 1988 vol 125 cc296-8W
Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has of the contribution from renewable sources of energy to(a) electrical supplies and (b) overall energy supply in the years (i) 2000 and (ii) 2020.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Hydro power contributes the equivalent of about 2 million tonnes of coal equivalent to the United Kingdom energy supply per annum. Small quantities of electricity are also generated from wind power and landfill gas. In addition, some heat-producing renewables have now become established as economically attractive and are beginning to make a small but useful contribution. This overall position is not expected to change significantly by 2000; the contribution by 2020 and beyond is unpredictable since it will depend upon economic circumstances and the success of the research and development we are currently conducting.

The appraisal of a wide range of energy technologies considered to be relevant for the United Kingdom was published in July as Energy Paper 54. The background papers prepared by ETSU for this study have also been published as ETSU R43: these contain estimates of both the technical potential and the potential contribution for all the renewable technologies. Copies of both publications are in the Libraries of the House.

Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has for encouraging the commercialisation of biomass energy; and if he has any plans for joint initiatives with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. Michael Spicer

My Department has research, development and demonstration programmes on biomass energy. These programmes embrace a range of projects from assessment studies to design, development and field trials. Where biofuels are already being developed and exploited by industry, no Government support is envisaged. Some biofuels, though considered to be economic now, are not yet being used to a significant extent; these are being demonstrated through my Department's energy efficiency demonstration scheme. Support is also being given under the biofuels programme for work which would not otherwise be undertaken; for example, to improve equipment and techniques for biomass use so that these can become economic and commercially acceptable.

No joint initiatives are planned with other Government Departments, although we shall continue to consult them and industry through advisory committees and other means as appropriate.

Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are his proposals for encouraging the commercialisation of wind energy; and if he plans any joint initiatives with the Department of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. Michael Spicer

My Department is continuing to press ahead with its research and development programme on wind energy which is intended to provide a basis for commercial exploitation of this resource by the late 1990s.

The programme is being carried out in collaboration with the generating boards and with a number of major British companies active in the wind energy field, which have already established significant export opportunities for their products.

No joint initiatives are planned with other Government Departments, although we shall continue to consult them through advisory committees and other means as appropriate.

Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what grants or incentives are currently available to members of the public who wish to utilise wind energy, hydro power, passive solar heating and biomass energy; and if he has any proposals for further grants or incentives.

Mr. Michael Spicer

My Department is supporting comprehensive research, development and demonstration programmes aimed at exploiting the United Kingdom's significant renewable energy sources. The Department's programmes are aimed at producing economically competitive and environmentally acceptable renewable technologies which can compete in the market. There are no grants currently available to members of the public who may wish to utilise renewable energy and we have no plans to introduce grant aid for renewable sources. The renewable technologies would not be best served in the long term by distorting the market by grant aid or other subsidies for their use.

Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what grants or incentives are currently available to industrial concerns which wish to utilise wind energy, hydro power, passive solar heating and biomass energy; and if he has any proposals for further grants or incentives.

Mr. Michael Spicer

My Department is supporting comprehensive research, development and demonstration programmes aimed at exploiting the United Kingdom's significant renewable energy sources. The Department's programmes are aimed at producing economically competitive and environmentally acceptable renewable technologies which can compete in the market. The Department of Trade and Industry, through its support for innovation scheme, makes funds available to industry for highly innovative research and development projects in this area. The European Commission offers grants for research and development and for demonstration projects for the renewable technologies. There are no grants available to industrial concerns which may wish to use renewable energy and we have no plans to introduce such measures.

Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has for the commercialisation of passive solar heating in buildings; and if he plans any joint initiatives with the Department of Trade and Industry.

Mr. Michael Spicer

My Department supports a comprehensive research and development programme on passive solar heating and lighting in both domestic and non-domestic buildings. Its aim is to encourage the commercial integration of passive solar design into the United Kingdom energy economy by the early 1990s. To do this, the programme gathers information on the benefits of passive solar design which, when incorporated with other energy efficient design techniques, can significantly reduce the energy requirements of buildings. This information is obtained from a series of design studies, field trials and studies of the relevant markets for the technology.

Increased emphasis will be given over the next few years to technical transfer, with the results of our programme put in a form that it is intended will influence building designers, developers and users. Over the next three years a wide range of design handbooks, housing layout guides, books and technical reports will be published. In addition we are examining a number of innovative technical transfer techniques which will further promote the take-up of this technology.

No joint initiatives are planned with the Department of Trade and Industry, but we shall continue to consult it, and other Government Departments, through advisory committees and other means as appropriate.