HC Deb 03 December 1991 vol 200 cc74-5W
Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much his Department has spent on each form of renewable energy programme since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

The Government are committed to the development of all sources of renewable energy which have the potential to be economically viable and environmentally acceptable. From 1 April 1979 up to 31 march 1991 over £174 million has been spent on renewables research and development. The budget for this year is a record £24 million.

Outturn expenditure from 1979–80 on my Department's renewable energy research, development and demonstration programme is set out, by technology, in the table.

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91
Tide 0.6 1.4 0.4 0 0 0.3 0.1 0.1 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.9
Hydro/General studies — — — — — — — — 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.0
Technology transfer and promotion — — — — — — — — 0.7 1.0 1.6 2.7
ETSU services 1.4 2.2 2.3 2.0 1.9 2.1 2.0 2.3 2.3 2.5 2.7 3.8
8.2 11.3 17.3 14.7 11.7 14.9 13.2 12.0 16.3 16.0 17.9 20.8
1 Includes expenditure on "waste as a fuel" projects under the Energy Efficiency Office Demonstration scheme.

Note: Up to 1986–87 total for R & 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.