§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for construction and operation of gas-fired power stations are currently awaiting decision; at what stage; from which applicants; for how much capacity; and if she will make a statement. [43061]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 21 May 1998]The following is the information requested:
Station Applicant Size(MW) Cottam (dual firing) PowerGen plc 1,000 Spalding InterGen (UK) Ltd 800 Baglan Bay Baglan CoGeneration Ltd 1,200 Partington AES Partington Ltd 380 Shotton Eastern Generation Ltd 215 Barking Barking Power Ltd 154 Rugeley B (dual firing) Eastern Generation Ltd 1,000 Drakelow C (dual firing) Eastern Generation Ltd 1,000 Teeside Teeside Power Ltd 45 York British Sugar plc 80 Castleford Yorkshire CoGen Ltd 56 Our general approach to those awaiting decision is set out in the reply given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. King) of 22 December 1997, Official Report, columns 519–20.
It should be noted that the previous Government gave the go-ahead for some 23,000 MW of new gas-fired capacity, mostly combined cycle gas turbine stations but some combined heat and power (CHP). We inherited 21 applications for new gas-fired projects, totalling some 10,500 MW. Since coming into office we have given approval to 9 projects, 7 of which were industrial CHP totalling some 600 MW with another having an element of CHP.
114W
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list in normal order of consideration the various consents to be given before construction and operation of a gas-fired power station may be initiated. [43062]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 21 May 1998]The construction, extension, or operation of a gas-fired power station with a capacity of more than 50 megawatts requires the President of the Board of Trade's consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. The President's approval is also required under section 14 of the Energy Act 1976 to use gas as the fuel for power stations over 10 megawatts. In addition, the President's consent under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 may also be required if the proposed station is to be connected to the transmission system via an overhead electric line. Other consents and approvals also need to be obtained from other statutory bodies, for example an Integrated Pollution Control licence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 has to be sought from the Environment Agency. It is for the applicant to determine when and in which order to seek the necessary approvals.