HC Deb 30 October 2003 vol 412 cc346-7W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public money was spent in each year since 1997 on(a) research into and (b) development of the (i) fuel cell principle and (ii) geothermal principle of producing energy; and if she will make a statement. [134326]

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 27 October 2003]: Since 1997, the DTI Fuel Cells Programme has spent the following amounts on industrial development and research up to the end of Financial Year 2002–03, rounded to the nearest thousand:

£
1997–98 900,000
1998–99 1,197,000
1999–2000 1,168,000
2000–01 1,410,000
2001–02 1,249,000
2002–03 1,200,000
Total 7,124,000

Scientific research funding is also given through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Fuel cell technologies are multi-disciplinary and receive funding through a number of EPSRC programmes and mechanisms. Much research effort is focused on the material and electrochemical aspects of the systems, but there is also a significant proportion of 'underpinning' research into fuels (including reformation and hydrogen) and integration issues.

EPSRC funding
£000
Fuel cell technologies Hydrogen fuels Geothermal
1998–99 1,016 136 0
1999–2000 703 59 0
2000–01 899 83 0
2001–02 1,145 319 7
2002–03 1,487 536 4

Notes:

  1. 1. Above figures are expenditure on grants in the financial years shown.
  2. 2. During 2004, EPSRC will be funding a major new consortium of fuel cell research, worth approximately £2 million over four years through the SUPERGEN initiative.
  3. 3. Hydrogen figures do not include SUPERGEN hydrogen consortium grant, worth £3.4 million from Q4 02/03.

There has been no funding for geo-thermal research and development since the decision in 1993 to cease the HDR programme (Hot Dry Rock). This followed a review in 1990 which concluded that the technical difficulties and economics of exploiting the resource made the prospects for this technology insufficient to continue research. However, through the Clear Skies initiative, the DTI is currently funding Ground Source Heat Pump installations in households and communities, with a total value of £308,462 to date.

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