§ Dr. BrandTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will define the phrase quality combined heat and power plant in relation to the climate change levy in respect of the greenhouse industry. [125722]
§ Mr. MeacherGood Quality combined heat and power is generation which delivers a high level of useful heat and electricity from the same fuel input. Good Quality CHP will achieve efficiencies significantly above those of conventional generation, where the waste heat is simply vented away.
I announced key decisions on the detailed methodology for assessing the quality of CHP, and the operation of the mechanism for assessing existing and proposed schemes, in my statement to the House on 17 May 2000, Official Report, columns 137–381. Use of the mechanism will be implemented by statutory orders under the Finance Bill currently under discussion.
The decisions follow consultation with operators and users of combined heat and power schemes, including those used in the greenhouse industry. The proposed CHP Quality Assurance programme provides a practical, reliable method for determining the quality of all sizes and types of CHP scheme for a range of purposes, including eligibility for exemption from the climate change levy.