§ Mr. David EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his policy for the development of renewable energy.
§ Mr. MoynihanRenewable energy sources offer both increased diversity of supply and environmental benefits in terms of reduced gaseous emissions. In particular, renewable energy sources can play a part in reducing Britain's emissions of greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide and methane.
The Government's policy set out in Department of Energy paper 55, "Renewable Energy in the United Kingdom—The Way Forward", is to encourage the development of renewable energy sources wherever they have prospects of being both economically competitive and acceptable in terms of the impact on the environment. This policy is in line with the approach of the European Community. The government's White Paper "This Common Inheritance" published in September 1990, said that the Government would work towards 1,000 MW of electricity generating capacity from renewable sources by the year 2005. This will contribute towards achieving the United Kingdom's target of returning carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2005.
The Government introduced the non-fossil fuel obligation in the Electricity Act 1989, which empowers the Secretary of State for Energy to require the regional electricity companies to contract for specified minimum electricity generating capacity from renewable energy sources so as to encourage the exploitation of the country's renewable energy resources. Planning applications for projects which relate to orders under the 1989 Act are in pursuit of this policy. The first order, laid in 1990, resulted in 170 MW being contracted, and a further order is proposed in 1991 giving projects the opportunity to proceed as soon as possible.
My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning set out some planning guidance on renewable energy for local authorities in answer to a parliamentary question today. Officials in the Departments of Energy and of the Environment and the Welsh Office are preparing a planning policy guidance note on this subject.
§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list by institution and amount the United Kingdom projects that have to date secured funds from the EC THERMIE programme on renewable energy technologies.
§ Mr. MoynihanThree United Kingdom projects relating to renewable energy technologies were successful in the first call under the THERMIE programme and contracts are now being negotiated.
Project Estimated total cost Maximum grant from the Commission (£) (£) Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres Ltd. 2,000,000 700,000 Polytechnic of North London 600,000 240,000 National Engineering Laboratory 420,000 170,000 The projects relate, respectively, to environmentally acceptable energy and materials from scrap tyres; 573W demonstrating energy savings in traditional buildings using unconventional planning and daylighting design; and wind-powered desalination by reverse osmosis on a commercial scale.