§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent initiatives there have been to encourage entrepreneurs to(a) develop and (b) export renewable energy goods and services. [84192]
§ Mr. WilsonThe Renewables Obligation, which the Government introduced on 1 April 2002, is being backed by over £250 million of direct support measures to bring forward newer renewable energy technologies. This provides a substantial incentive to renewable energy generation in the UK, and creates a favourable climate, too, for the expansion of renewable energy goods and services.
Accordingly, the Government set up in April a new unit, Renewables UK, to encourage the renewable energy sector to take advantage of the opportunities created by the Renewables Obligation, and to increase the UK industry content of renewable energy projects.
To foster innovative research and development activity, the Government have increased provision for the New and Renewable Energy Programme to £19 million per year. The programme includes an 690W export promotion arm, for which Renewables UK is responsible, which provides specific, targeted support to UK companies in the renewables sector.
Renewables UK chairs an inter-governmental committee, the Sustainable Energy Exports Committee, which brings together all Departments and Government agencies supporting renewable energy exports activity to work together for the benefit of UK companies.
The Export Credit Guarantee Department makes available cover for up to £50 million of exports each year for projects in the renewable energy sector.