§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer of 10 December 1997,Official Report, columns 1002–03, when she expects to announce the Government's proposals relating to the long-term energy requirements of the country. [20912]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 15 December 1997]: The timetable of the review of our policy towards approval of new power stations, including the role which coal should play, will be announced shortly.
§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the relative efficiencies of coal-fired, gas-fired and oil-fired electricity power stations; and if he will make a statement. [21273]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 16 December 1997]: These vary according to the design and technology used. Modern Combined Cycle plant, all of which is presently gas fired, can achieve thermal efficiencies of up to 344W 55 per cent. with the latest designs. This compares to typical operating efficiencies in the range 36 per cent. to 39 per cent. for plant using more conventional technology be they coal, oil or gas. More advanced clean coal plant based on combustion and gasification technologies are now available which offer efficiencies of 43 per cent. or more. Properly sized combined heat and power plant can achieve thermal efficiencies considerably in excess of any of the above.
In assessing our future policy towards the electricity industry the Government are taking into account the contribution made by each fuel to its overall goal of ensuring security diversity sustainability and competitive prices.