§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans there are to(a) establish a national energy research centre and (b) encourage the research and development of new energy technologies. [103549]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 20 March 2003]The information is as follows:
(a) The Research Councils are developing proposals for a new UK energy research centre as part of the new £28 million cross-Council programme "Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy". The councils intend that the centre will be established by 1 April 2004. They announced a call for expressions of interest to operate the centre on 18 March 2003. Further information is available from: www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/programmes/sustenergy.
(b) A programme to support renewables is already in place and is worth £250 million between 2002–03 and 2005–06. The 2002 Spending Review also allocated an additional £38 million for energy policy objectives in 2005–06 compared with 2002–03. This will now be increased by a further £60 million. The programme comprises a range of measures, including funding for R&D and demonstration projects, to accelerate the uptake of renewables.
The Carbon Trust, which leads on low-carbon technology and innovation, is spending £75 million over the next three years to support R&D, development and other activities to bring forward new and emerging technologies. Funding for energy-related technology has also been available via the DTI's Innovation and Business Support programmes and though various European programmes.
The Research Councils will spend over £11 million on energy-related research in 2002–03 and have been allocated an additional £28 million under the 2002 Spending Review for further research in support of a sustainable energy economy, including the establishment of the UK energy research centre.