§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what action his Department is taking to promote the use of renewable sources of energy in the business community. [4711]
§ Mr. PageThe Government are stimulating the development of new and renewable energy sources and industrial and market infrastructure through a market enablement strategy. The strategy was published as "Energy Paper 62" in March 1994. The strategy's principal measure involves stimulating an initial market for electricity-producing technologies close to commercial competitiveness via renewables orders made under the non-fossil fuel obligation—NFFO.
As I announced in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford (Dr. Clark) on 2 November 1995, Official Report, columns 441–42, the proposals for a fourth NFFO order for England and Wales for a further 400 to 500 MW of contracts for renewables-generated electricity.
Other measures are aimed at assessing and developing technology options in collaboration with industry, ensuring that the market is fully informed, removing inappropriate market barriers and encouraging international competitive industries to develop.
Specific actions under the new and renewable energy programme to date have included support for 11 studies undertaken with regional electricity companies and local authorities which identify the local availability of renewable resources; work with the financial community to promote the availability of suitable investment funds; and support for studies aimed at evaluating the prospects for retail sales of renewable electricity. Another measure funded under the DTI's new and renewable energy programme is the energy design advice scheme—EDAS—which aims to improve the energy and 466W environmental performance of the building stock in both commercial and residential sectors, through the provision of specialised low-energy building expertise to building designers and their clients.
My Department also publishes, through the energy technology support unit, a wide range of literature on renewable energy and operates an inquiries bureau for businesses, local authorities and the general public.
The Government intend to work, through the NFFO and taking account of those factors which influence business competitiveness, towards a figure of 1500 MW DNC of new electricity generating capacity from renewable energy sources for the United Kingdom as a whole by 2000.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Government-funded research projects are currently engaged on the development of renewable sources of energy. [4712]
§ Mr. PageMy Department is currently supporting 358 research projects under the new and renewable energy programme.