HC Deb 05 March 1991 vol 187 cc102-3W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on progress on the renewable non-fossil fuel obligation 1991 bidding round.

Mr. Moynihan

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy has informed the House of our intention to make a further Renewables Order in the autumn of this year. The procedure that has been adopted by the regional electricity companies (RECs) to select the projects to be contracted under the order has been widely publicised, and was the subject of a seminar for renewables operators, jointly hosted by the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Ltd. and the Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER), last month. That procedure is now in hand. It involves an initial scrutiny of the tenders, against the requirements of the legislation, by OFFER; a review period for unsuccessful tenderers; and a competitive bidding procedure for successful tenderers. My right hon. Friend will then determine the level of the obligation and the technology bands to be included within it, in the light of the advice of the Director General of Electricity Supply as to the available field and in consultation with the regional electricity companies. The RECs will then conclude contracts, to the required level of capacity, with the most economic projects in each band.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what financial contribution he will make to the Price Waterhouse critical path with analysis for the 1991 round of tendering for the non-fossil fuel renewables tranche; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

None. Price Waterhouse are advisers on the non-fossil fuel obligation to the regional electricity companies, and this is therefore a matter for the RECs and their agent the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the potential for wind, wave and other intermittent renewable energy services taking part successfully in the 1991 round of bidding for the non-fossil fuel obligation renewables tranche.

Mr. Moynihan

In answer to a parliamentary question on 19 December, at columns 162–63, my right hon. Friend gave an initial indication of the likely sizes of bands which might be included in the 1991 Renewables Order. However, it is for the regional electricity companies (RECs) to submit the projects that apply for inclusion in the 1991 renewables non-fossil fuel obligation (NFFO) to the Director-General of Electricity Supply (DGES), and for the DGES to assess the projects against the requirements of the legislation. We will then consult the DGES and the RECs before eventually setting the level of the obligation for the 1991 order.