§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps(a) he has taken and (b) he will take to promote the use of arable wood crops or wood chips as a fuelstock for conversion into electricity.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerInvestigation of the economic prospects for the use of wood crops and wood chip as a fuelstock has formed part of my Department's research, development and demonstration programmes on biofuels for the past decade and just over £1.5 million has been spent in this area.
Projects so far have looked at the potential for harvesting, processing, storing and transporting of fuel wood as well as investigations of novel systems such as integrated or whole tree harvesting and also combustion trials. In addition, we have supported studies of short rotation energy forestry including the establishment arid development of trial plots and coppice harvesting techniques as well as the possible environmental impact.
Our intention for the future programme is laid out in energy paper 55, copies of which are in the Libraries of both Houses.
Within my Department's plans for electricity privatisation, wood crops or wood chip will be eligible to contribute towards the non-fossil fuel obligation.