§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what research her Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the feasibility of off-shore wind farms. [45666]
§ Mr. BattleAn appraisal of the prospects for, and constraints on, the development of both onshore and offshore wind was published as 'An Assessment of Renewable Energy in the UK' by HMSO in 1994. Since then my Department's New and Renewable Energy Programme has supported a wide range of research projects related to wind energy and geared mainly towards onshore deployment, stimulated by successive Orders under the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation. Current work, however, includes monitoring the development of the first offshore wind NFFO project at Blythe, and assessing the commercial opportunities for UK manufacturing industry within the offshore wind arena. Total DTI expenditure on wind energy projects in 1997/98 was £1.5 million.
My current review of renewable energy, including onshore and offshore wind energy, is considering the contribution each source could make, the barriers to deployment and the measures which may be necessary to overcome them, and the need for research, development, demonstration, and dissemination. I expect to make an announcement about the Review later this year.