Renewable Energy (Hansard, 18 January 1999)

§ Mr. Stunell
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will establish a Government task force to promote renewable energy. [65777]

§ Mr. Battle
An advisory body already exists. The Renewable Energy Advisory Committee advises the Department of Trade and Industry on the aims, content, environmental appropriateness and economic applicability of the Department's new and renewable energy market enablement programme and policy on new and renewable energy. The committee's membership is drawn from industry, academia, local government, environmental bodies and Government. The DTI values the committee's work and has implemented its advice on the development of new and renewable energy.

§ Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's progress in achieving 10 per cent. of the country's energy from renewable sources. [66076]

§ Mr. Battle
The Government are committed to a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources.
As a first step in our new and strong drive for renewables, I announced the fifth and largest Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO-5) Order of 1177 MW on 24 September 1998. A third Scottish Renewables Obligation Order (SRO-3) will be made on 7 February 1999, probably for between 110–120 MW.
Today about 2 per cent. of our electricity comes from renewables, mostly from large scale hydro. NFFO Orders already laid or in train will add a further 3 per cent. by around 2002 or 2003. The challenge is to move from about 5 per cent. in 2003 to 10 per cent. by 2010. I have 362W therefore instigated a review to consider what would be necessary and practicable to achieve this. I expect to publish a consultation document on the review shortly.
I have already reversed the planned cuts in the renewables programme budget which the previous Government had made, so that the renewables programme budget for this year (1998–99) has been maintained at £11.1 million. The Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) also supports work on new and renewable energy, spending about £1 million a year on its Photovoltaics programme alone and expects to launch a new programme on "Renewables and New Energy Technologies" later this year (£3.5 million a year).