§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the additional sums to promote the development of new sources of renewable energy announced in the 2000 Spending Review has been spent to date; on what schemes; and what plans he has for the remaining sums. [160913]
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§ Mr. HainThe new money announced in the 2000 Spending Review and the other new funding for renewable energy, comprising a total package in excess of £250 million, relates to the three year period 2001–;04.
The package includes £89 million for capital grants for offshore wind, energy crops and biomass generation; £55.5 million for an expanded DTI R&D programme: £12 million from MAFF for their energy crops planting scheme; an initial £10 million as the first phase of a market stimulation programme for photovoltaic roofs; £3 million investment in a solar housing trial; and £100 million to be allocated later in the year.
My Department is working in consultation with the wind energy industry on detailed arrangements for the new capital grants scheme for offshore wind energy projects. The New Opportunities Fund will be consulting the biomass industry and other interested parties on the details of the energy crops electricity generation and small-scale biomass heating schemes.
The precise allocation of the £100 million announced by the Prime Minister for different renewable technologies will be decided in the light of recommendations of the Cabinet Office's Performance and Innovation Unit later in the year. The Prime Minister indicated that this new money will help promote solar photovoltaics, give a boost to offshore wind, kick start energy crops and bring on stream other new generation technologies.
Decisions on the allocation of the DTI's increased R&D budget for renewable energy will be made in the light of consultation with industry and the universities. Of the £18 million available for renewables R&D in the current financial year, some £8 million has already been allocated to a range of renewable energy projects.