Renewable Energy Sources (Hansard, 15 October 2002)

§ Norman Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the reasons underlying the change in the percentage of energy used derived from renewable sources in the last 12 months. [73949]

§ Mr. Wilson
Total electricity generation from renewables and wastes in 2001 amounted to 10,099 GWh, 38 per cent. of which was from large scale hydro generation. Large scale hydro generation was 21 per cent. lower than in 2000 because of a low level of precipitation in the catchment areas, especially in winter 2000–01. As a result, renewable sources provided 2.6 per cent. of the electricity generated in the United 673W Kingdom, 0.2 percentage points lower than in 2000. Generation from renewable sources other than hydro in 2001 was 12 per cent. higher than in 2000.

§ Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the UK will meet the target of 5 per cent. of electricity to be generated by renewable sources by 2003. [73810]

§ Mr. Wilson
As I explained in introducing the Renewables Obligation Order 2002 on 6 March, (Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, column 4), prospects of achieving a level of 5 per cent. by the end of 2003—a date proposed in a 1999 DTI consultation document—have been heavily dependent on the pace of new commissioning of projects awarded contracts under the Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) and the comparable arrangements for Scotland. In practice, even with the Government's action to allow locational flexibility for NFFO contracts, the pace of new commissioning has been somewhat slower than had been hoped. As I said in March, the indications are that the target of a 5 per cent. contribution from renewables to electricity supplies will be delivered late.
The Renewables Obligation, which came into effect from 1 April 2002, introduces new arrangements to ensure the long-term expansion of renewable energy in the UK. The Obligation is set to run for twenty-five years, and will provide an incentive for renewable energy expected to rise to some £1 billion per year by 2010–11. It is backed by £260 million direct Government support for renewables over the next three years. The Obligation is set at increasing levels for successive years, rising from 3 per cent. for 2002–3 to 10.4 per cent. for 2010–11. The level of the Renewables Obligation is 4.9 per cent. for 2004–5 and 5.5 per cent. for 2005–6.

§ Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress with increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the UK's electricity production in the last 12 months. [73811]

§ Mr. Wilson
I refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Lewes.
The capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources increased by 2.9 per cent. in 2001 to stand at 2.52 MW at the end of December 2001. As a result of new projects coming fully on-line under NFFO during 2001, generation from landfill gas increased by 14½ per cent. and generation from other biofuels (especially straw and poultry litter) increased by 63 per cent.

§ Mr. Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of electricity is derived from renewable sources. [73891]

§ Mr. Wilson
In 2001, renewable sources provided 2.6 per cent. of the electricity derived in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the progress of the Government towards meeting its target of acquiring 10 per cent. of power from renewable sources. [73766]
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§ Mr. Wilson
The Department collects regular statistical data on the output of different forms of energy including renewables.
The forthcoming Energy White Paper will assess in full our prospects for achieving the 10 per cent. target.