HC Deb 22 July 2002 vol 389 cc787-8W
Gregory Barker

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's renewable energy supply target is for 2020. [71529]

Mr. Wilson

The Government launched a consultation on energy policy on 14 May with a view to publishing a White Paper around the turn of the year. This consultation covers the issue of a renewable energy supply target to 2020, following a recommendation to Government by the Performance and Innovation Unit that this target should be 20 per cent.

The Government's views will be made known in the White Paper.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which factors have added uncertainty to her predicted future generating costs of power from(a) wind power and (b) photovoltaic cells. [64343]

Mr. Wilson

Estimates of the future costs of generating electricity from wind and photovoltaic cells are set out in:

chapter 6 and annex 6 of "The Energy Review", which was produced by the Cabinet Office's Performance and Innovation Unit (http://www.piu.gov.uk/2002/energy/report/index.htm): and chapter 5 and annex C of the Inter-Departmental Analysts Group's report, "Long-Term Reductions in Greenhouse Emissions in the UK" (http://www2.dti.gov.uk/energy/greenhousegas/index.htm).

Both reports were published in February 2002 and copies of them are available in the Libraries of the House.

The above publications discuss factors that contribute to uncertainty surrounding future generating costs of different forms of renewable energy. I am not aware of any significant developments since these reports were published that would affect these factors in a material way.

Gregory Barker

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received regarding the intermittency of renewable energy. [71579]

Mr. Wilson

Problems experienced by smaller intermittent generators were raised in the context of the consultation exercise on New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA) and smaller generators. A conclusions document was issued in April entitled: "Government Response to the Consultation on NETA and Smaller Generators of 1 November 2001", a copy of which is in the Libraries of the House.

A number of proposals that smaller intermittent generators suggested to assist them, such as the removal of barriers to consolidation and the reduction of gate closure to one hour, have already been implemented.

Other issues, such as the cost-reflectivity of the balancing mechanism under NETA, will be examined in Ofgem's review of the first year of operation of NETA. The review is expected shortly and a copy will be placed in the Library. The Government will consider in the light of this review whether further changes are required to NETA.