§ Mr. StunellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans his Department has to announce investment in wave energy. [55677]
§ Mr. BattleThe Government propose to undertake a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources in line with their manifesto commitment. To this end, I have commissioned a review of policy towards new and renewable energy, including consideration of what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010, and how renewables can make an effective contribution to meeting requirements for future greenhouse gas reduction commitments. The prospects for wave energy technology will be considered in that review, the outcome of which I hope to be able to announce later this year.
In the meantime, Scottish Office Ministers have launched the third competition under the Scottish Renewables Obligation (SRO-3) and are minded that the SRO-3 Order should make limited capacity available to wave power projects, among others.