HC Deb 03 December 1991 vol 200 cc73-4W
Sir Eldon Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the power generated in the United Kingdom is derived from gas; what power stations

Department of Energy R, D & 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 1989–90 1990–91
Wind 0.6 0.8 0.9 2.5 2.5 4.8 5.4 3.7 4.0 3.9 4.8 4.5
Wave 3.0 3.3 4.4 3.1 1.0 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4
Geothermal aquifers 1.3 1.7 2.6 1.5 1.8 1.1 0.3 0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0
Geothermal hot dry rocks 0 0.6 5.6 3.0 2.9 4.6 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.3 2.6
Solar 1.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 0.9 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.4 1.9 2.1
Biomass1 0.1 0.4 0.4 1.2 0.7 1.1 0.8 1.3 2.2 1.5 1.4 1.8

now use gas and how much in each case; what increase in the use of gas for power generation is forecast over the years 1991 to 1995; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards the use of gas for this purpose.

Mr. Moynihan

Gas accounted for just over 1 per cent. of the total amount of fuel used for power generation in the United Kingdom in 1990. The total amount of gas used for power generation in the United Kingdom in 1990 was estimated to have been in the region of 400 million therms —"Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1991", table 53, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The amount of gas used by individual stations is a commercial matter for the companies concerned.

Those stations currently operating in England and Wales with the capacity to use gas as a fuel for electricity generation of 50 MW or above, and that hold such consent under section 14 of the Energy Act 1976, are as follows:

Organisation Location
Lakeland Power Roosecote, Cumbria
London Transport Executive Greenwich, London
London Transport Executive Lots Road, Chelsea, London

Any increase in the use of gas in the period up to 1995 will depend upon commercial decisions taken by the companies currently in, or proposing to enter, the electricity generation market. My Department is currently aware of around two dozen projects for power stations intending to use gas as their fuel.

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer given to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 11 November, at column 768, which outlines my Department's policy towards the use of gas for power generation.

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