§ Viscount Hanworthasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they now propose to increase the use of combined heat and power (CHP) particularly in the domestic sector and how they will eliminate discrimination against fixed assets such as heating mains and other deterrents.
§ Baroness Denton of WakefieldWe promote the use of CHP in all cost effect applications, it is an integral part of the Department of the Environment's strategy. The target set in the 1990 Environmental White Paper has recently been increased to 5000 MW installed capacity by the end of the decade. At present, there are approximately 1000 CHP sites in operation and installed capacity is fast approaching 3000 MW.
The mainstay of our promotion of CHP and Community Heating is through the Energy Efficiency Office's Best Practice Programme. In addition, the Green House Programme has demonstrated various energy efficiency solutions, including CHP, which can 158WA be incorporated in local authorities' main housing investment programmes. The recently created Energy Saving Trust offers financial assistance to local authorities and housing associations installing residential CHP and will support at least 30 projects in its first year. We are members of the International Energy Agency's programme on district heating and cooling and have a close working relationship with the Combined Heat and Power Association and the Community Heating Group.
We also seek to ensure that energy efficiency measures face no unnecessary legislative, market or institutional barriers to their implementation.