Renewable Energy (Hansard, 30 October 2001)

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations she has received from the Association of Electricity Producers concerning energy from waste in the renewables obligation; [10661]
(2) what representations she has received from the Renewable Power Association on waste in the renewables obligation. [10695]

§ Mr. Wilson
We published our Statutory Consultation on the renewables obligation in August this year. The consultation period has just ended and we are now analysing the responses received. Over 150 responses were received, including one from each of the Association of Electricity Producers and the Renewable Power Association.
Both responses can be viewed on our website at www.dti.gov.uk/renewable/consultationresponses.htm (see responses 150 and 57 respectively).

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects gasification and pyrolysis plants to be ready to operate commercially using mixed waste as a fuel. [10660]

§ Mr. Wilson
There are a number of pilot plants using pyrolysis and gasification which may advance to commercial scale operations in due course. There are also commercial operators in other countries who are interested in developing pyrolysis and gasification projects in this country. This was one of the subjects discussed on my recent visit with relevant officials to Japan.
586W
We propose to include pyrolysis and gasification in the Renewables Obligation to provide an incentive for the development of these technologies to help us meet our target for 2010.

§ Paddy Tipping
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects gasification and pyrolysis plants, as specified in the draft Renewables Obligation Order, to be ready to operate commercially using mixed waste as fuel. [10900]

§ Mr. Wilson
[holding answer 29 October 2001]: There are a number of pilot plants using pyrolysis and gasification which may advance to commercial scale operations in due course. There are also commercial operators in other countries who are interested in developing pyrolysis and gasification projects in this country. This was one of the subjects discussed on my recent visit with relevant officials to Japan.
We propose to include pyrolysis and gasification in the Renewables Obligation to provide an incentive for the development of these technologies to help us meet our target for 2010.