Alternative Energy (Hansard, 18 October 1989)

Mr. Wray To
ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is for each year since 1979 the amount of public funds spent on research on energy produced by (a) off-shore wind turbines, (b) wave and tidal power, (c) solar technology and (d) other kinds of alternatives to coal, oil and nuclear energy.

§ Mr. Peter Morrison
The table sets out expenditure on renewable sources of energy supported by public funds since 1979. Information on expenditure on offshore wind R and D is included in the totals for wind R and D. Total expenditure on offshore wind since 1979 is £1.07 million (Department of Energy and CEGB).
127W

Public sector R, D and D expenditure on renewable energy (£ million)

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89

Wind 1.1 1.4 2.1 4.6 4.5 6.6 7.5 6.0 7.3 8.5

Wave 3.0 3.3 4.4 3.1 1.2 0.4 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.1

Geothermal Aquifers 1.5 1.9 4.1 2.3 2.1 1.3 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1

Geothermal hot dry rocks 0.0 0.6 5.6 3.0 2.9 4.6 3.5 3.5 3.7 3.6

Solar 1.5 1.2 1.5 1.7 1.6 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.5

Biomass¹ 0.3 1.1 1.0 1.8 0.9 1.2 0.9 1.3 2.3 2.1

Tide 0.6 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.1 1.4 1.2

Hydro/general studies — — — — — — — — 0.8 0.8

Technology transfer and promotion — — — — — — — — 0.7 1.0

ETSU management 1.4 2.2 2.3 2.0 1.9 2.1 2.0 2.3 2.3 2.5

Total 9.4 13.1 21.4 18.5 15.1 17.3 15.9 14.5 19.9 21.4

¹ Includes expenditure on "waste as a fuel" projects under the Energy Efficiency Office Demonstration Scheme.

Notes:
1. The table incorporates expenditure on renewable energy by Government Departments. Science Engineering Research Council, Natural Environment Research Council and the CEGB.
2. Up to 1986–87 total for R and D also includes expenditure on low head hydro and general studies to 1986–87. These are separately identified for 1987–88 and include work carried out by the Chief Scientist Group, ETSU.
3. The totals for solar energy incorporate work on passive solar design of buildings, active solar water heating and photovoltaics.
4. The totals for wave incorporate work on ocean thermal energy conversion.

§ Mr. Wray
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to implement the Central Electricity Generating Board scientific report on energy produced by wind turbines based off-shore.

§ Mr. Peter Morrison
I am not aware of the report to which the hon. Member refers. My Department is continuing to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of offshore wind energy.

Public sector R, D and D expenditure on renewable energy (£ million)
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Wind	1.1	1.4	2.1	4.6	4.5	6.6	7.5	6.0	7.3	8.5
Wave	3.0	3.3	4.4	3.1	1.2	0.4	0.6	0.2	0.2	0.1
Geothermal Aquifers	1.5	1.9	4.1	2.3	2.1	1.3	0.3	0.1	0.0	0.1
Geothermal hot dry rocks	0.0	0.6	5.6	3.0	2.9	4.6	3.5	3.5	3.7	3.6
Solar	1.5	1.2	1.5	1.7	1.6	0.8	1.0	1.0	1.2	1.5
Biomass¹	0.3	1.1	1.0	1.8	0.9	1.2	0.9	1.3	2.3	2.1
Tide	0.6	1.4	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.1	0.1	1.4	1.2
Hydro/general studies	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.8	0.8
Technology transfer and promotion	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.7	1.0
ETSU management	1.4	2.2	2.3	2.0	1.9	2.1	2.0	2.3	2.3	2.5
Total	9.4	13.1	21.4	18.5	15.1	17.3	15.9	14.5	19.9	21.4
¹ Includes expenditure on "waste as a fuel" projects under the Energy Efficiency Office Demonstration Scheme.