HC Deb 18 April 1990 vol 170 cc850-1W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) of 2 april,Official Report, column 411, he will make it his policy to require the National Grid Company to purchase the renewables-sourced energy on behalf of public electricity suppliers in England and Wales.

Mr. Peter Morrison

No.

2005. Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date assessment of the amount of renewables-sourced energy purchased by the public electricity suppliers in England and Wales in(a) 1995, (b) 2000 and (c)

Mr. Peter Morrison

The amount of renewables-sourcesd electricity purchased by the public electricity suppliers during the lifetime of the non-fossil fuel obligation will be influenced by the level of the obligation, and applications to contract within the first NFFO renewables order are now being processed by the suppliers in consultation with my Department. A series of further tranches will be brought forward during the 1990s; these are currently expected to total some 600 mw. The amount of renewables-sourced electricity puchased outside the obligation is a commercial matter for the suppliers themselves.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date assessment of the impact of the European Commission decision of 28 March approving the Government's non-fossil fuel obligation for the period 1990 to 1998 on the amount of renewables-sourced energy purchased by the public electricity suppliers of England and Wales in the year 2000.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The Commission's decision to authorise aid in relation to United Kingdom nuclear electricity will mean that the amount of renewables-sourced electricity generating capacity will be significantly higher throughout the 1990s than if the non-fossil fuel obligation had not existed.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date assessment of the level of renewables-sourced energy purchased by the public electricity suppliers of England and Wales in the year 2000 and 2005 coming from(a) methane gas recovery from landfill, (b) refuse incineration, (c) small-scale hydro and (d) wind power.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Renewables technologies have the potential to make a substantial contribution to electricity generating capacity. My Department's most recent assessment of the extent of this contribution is set out in Energy Paper No. 55, copies of which are in the Libraries of both Houses.