§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many navigation lights and radar reflectors could be mounted on an offshore wave device.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe number of navigation lights and radar reflectors which could be mounted on an offshore wave energy device would depend upon the size of the device.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the impact of the reported increase in Atlantic wave amplitudes on the economics of wave energy.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerAny established trend in changes to Atlantic wave amplitudes would need to be taken into account when assessing the economics of wave energy. Wave conditions affect both device productivity and capital cost.
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§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list those contracts on wave energy research in which final signatures of the papers by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority officials was more than six months after the start of the contract and if he will give the length of delay in each instance;
(2) if he will list the number and amounts of payments for work on wave energy in which the settlement of the invoice by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority was more than six months after the submission of the invoice; and if he will give the length of delay in each case.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThis information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will explain his Department's concern about the risks which could be posed to shipping by offshore wave power devices;
(2) if he will make a statement on the environmental problems associated with offshore wave devices on water of 100 m depth off the west coast of Scotland; and whether such devices would be visible from the shore.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe possible risks to shipping and environmental aspects including visual amenity of offshore wave energy devices were discussed in section 13 of the report on wave energy by the energy technology support unit, ETSU R26. This report was published in 1985 and copies were placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will compensate wave energy researchers for the consequences of any inaccurate comments by his officials concerning their work.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe wave energy programme was redirected as part of the Department of Energy's continuing assessment of the priorities for renewable research and development and no question of compensation arises.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what length would be required of the most productive type of offshore wave device, as identified by his Department's consultants in their report of June 1983 and by subsequent analysis of reliability by Dr. Taylor at ETSU, to generate electricity output equivalent to that of Sizewell B on the basis of (a) peak output and (b) mean annual output, on the assumption that Sizewell B will operate on a capacity factor equivalent to that of existing Central Electricity Generating Board nuclear plant.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerIf such an offshore wave device could be developed and if such a comparison were meaningful the approximate lengths would be:
- (a) 25 km.
- (b) 50 km.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for East Lothian, 20 January,Official Report, column 343, if he will publish the recent correspondence between the manager of his Department's wave programme, Mr. Peter Davies, and Professor Salter, relating to the circulation of papers to the wave energy steering committee.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerMy Department is not aware of any recent correspondence between Mr. Peter Davies and Professor Salter.