§ Baroness Nicolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking, or proposing to take, to encourage the production and use of fuel cell technology in the United Kingdom.
§ Lord Cavendish of FurnessHer Majesty's Government fully recognise the potential environmental benefits offered by fuel cells as a clean and efficient form of electricity generation for the future. But it will have to compete with other technologies on both price and performance.
The types of fuel cell near to commercial application do not currently appear economic for general use in the UK but there are advanced types offering significant improvements in performance at an early stage of development.
The Government have supported a number of studies to assess what role fuel cells might play in the UK and what work is needed to develop the technology. The Department of Energy has set up two working groups, one on solid polymer fuel cells and one on solid oxide, to undertake studies and promote discussions with industry and researchers on how best to take forward the technology in the UK, taking account of opportunities for collaboration both nationally and internationally. These working groups are due to report their findings by the year end.
In the current financial year, the Department of Energy expects to spend about £350,000 funding a number of fuel cell related studies and projects.