§ Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost per kilowatt hour is of electricity generated by(a) existing coal fired stations, (b) existing gas stations, (c) new gas stations, (d) AGR, (e) Magnox, (f) onshore wind and (g) offshore wind. [82901]
§ Mr. WilsonThe costs of generating electricity are a commercial matter for generators.
Costs can be estimated on a variety of bases and will vary from plant to plant. For example, figures can include all cost items, including depreciation and return on capital, or can refer only to the additional costs associated with continued operation. The costs of plant using fossil fuel will vary as fuel prices change.
Estimate of the cost of generating electricity from new and existing coal- and gas-fired power stations were published in chapter 5 of the 1998 White Paper, "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation" (http://www dti.gov.uk/energy/publications/whitepapers/review sources/chpt05.pdf).
Projections of future generation costs using different technologies (including renewables) are available in:
(i) chapter 6 of the Performance and Innovation Unit's "Energy Review" (http://www.piu.gov.Uk/2002/energy/report/9.html), which was published in February 2002; and(ii) chapter 6 of the Inter-departmental Analysts' Group report, "Long-Term Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the UK" (http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/greenhousegas/cost.pdf), which was published in February 2002.Information on the cost of British Energy's UK nuclear stations (which include one Pressurised Water Reactor as well as the AGRs) can be found in the company's report and accounts: (http://www.british-energy.com/investors/reports/index.html
Information on electricity generation and the cost of operating the Magnox stations is contained in the report and accounts of Magnox Electric plc. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in Libraries of the House.