HC Deb 09 May 1988 vol 133 cc25-6W
Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what research and development projects into wave power are currently being funded by his Department.

Mr. Michael Spicer

My Department is currently funding:

  • —The construction and monitoring of an experimental, shoreline, oscillating water-column device by Belfast university on the island of Islay;
  • —A feasibility study of a modular offshore device by Lancaster university;
  • —Assessments of shoreline and modular offshore devices by the energy technology support unit.
Reports on these studies will be published in due course.

Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what recent assessment his Department has made of the contribution of wave power to electricity generation in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The last overall assessment of the contribution of wave power to electricity generation was published as ETSU report R30 "Prospects for the Exploitation of the Renewable Energy Technologies of the United Kingdom" and this information was updated in Energy Paper No. 54 "Energy Technologies for the United Kingdom: 1986 Appraisal of R, D & D". Copies of both reports are in the Library of the House. The energy technology support unit is currently conducting assessments of the potential for shoreline and modular offshore devices and a proposal is under consideration for a preliminary survey of possible sites for shoreline devices.