HC Deb 24 February 1989 vol 147 c815W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all renewable energy research projects sponsored by his Department that have resulted in successful exports; and if he will make a statement on prospects for future exports of renewable energy technologies.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The development of commercially viable and environmentally acceptable renewable technologies is still at an early stage. One of the main aims of our programme is to reduce the uncertainty about the economies and potential contribution of those technologies currently classed as promising but uncertain. This is done by obtaining better market data and by improving technical performance and reducing capital costs. United Kingdom industry is playing a leading role in this work and a number of companies involved in our programme have been very successful in developing overseas markets. Notable examples are James Howden and Company and the Wind Energy Group, which have successfully exported their wind turbines.

If our research and development are successful many of the technologies being examined as part of our programme should offer considerable export potential for United Kingdom industry. Expertise derived from our programme is playing an important part in the collaborative programmes established by the European Commission and the International Energy Agency.

No list of research projects has been kept in the form requested.