§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effect of recent trends in investment in renewable energy upon residents of Birkenhead. [166614]
§ Mr. TimmsAs I far as I am aware recent trends in investment have not led directly to new renewables capacity in Birkenhead itself. However, there are a number of development not far from Birkenhead.
In 2003 my Department awarded a capital grant of £10 million to Seascape Energy towards the costs of developing the Burbo Bank offshore wind farm in Liverpool Bay.
In 1999, Mersey Docks and Harbour Company were awarded a contract under the Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) arrangements for electricity to be generated from six 600 kW wind turbines in Seaforth Dock.
A grant of £11,759.50 was awarded to Cosmopolitan Housing Association under stream 1 of the DTIs Photovoltaic (PV) Major Demonstration Programme for a project in Liverpool.
A grant of £94,647 was awarded under the DTIs PV Domestic Field Trial to CDS Housing for a project at Pinehurst Estate, Liverpool.
A grant of £1,250 was awarded to Liverpool county council under the DTIs Clear Skies scheme for a community project in Liverpool.
Some initiatives relating to the North West region as a whole may result in benefits for Birkenhead. In 2000–01, the DTI contributed £50,000 towards a study of the potential for renewable energy throughout the North West region. Between 2002–04, the DTI contributed £208,060 towards a regional renewable energy planning facilitation fund administered through the Government Office for the North West.