HC Deb 20 July 2004 vol 424 cc181-2W
Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates have been made of the costs of concrete production for the purpose of wind power generation. [184106]

Mr. Timms

A number of studies have estimated the overall environmental cost of building wind power generation. For example, the British Wind Energy Association states that the average wind farm in the UK will pay back the energy used in its manufacture within three to five months, and over its lifetime a wind turbine will produce over 30 times more energy than was used in its manufacture. This compares favourably with coal or nuclear power stations, which take about six months.

Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the amount of renewable energy sources within London. [184285]

Mr. Timms

The Department and the Government Office for London are working closely with the GLA in taking forward the implementation of the Mayor of London's Energy Strategy, which the Government has welcomed.

London will benefit from the range of measures the Government has put in place to deliver its target of 10 per cent. of electricity supply from renewable sources by 2010: including Renewables Obligation on suppliers, grant support and exemption from climate change levy.

Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the range of the capital grant support available for renewable energy projects in the areas of(a) biomass, (b) photovoltaics and (c) solar water heating. [185398]

Mr. Timms

The information requested is as follows.

(a) Biomass—DTI and the Big Lottery Fund have allocated 66 million through the Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme to encourage the efficient use of biomass, and particularly energy groups, for energy production by stimulating the early deployment of biomass fuelled heat and electricity generation projects.

(b) Photovoltaics—The £25 million Photovoltaic Major Demonstration Programme offers grants to householders, public bodies, small to medium enterprises and larger bodies for the installation of PV panels. Householders can get a grant of up to £3,000 and £4,250, dependent on size and type of installation. For public bodies, small to medium enterprises and larger bodies grants between 40 per cent. and 60 per cent. are available on a competitive basis, assessed independently at selection panels.

(c) Solar Water Heating—Grants are available through the Clear Skies initiative; householders can get a grant of £400 towards the cost of an installation. Community and not-for-profit groups can get a grant of 50 per cent., up to a maximum of £100,000, towards the cost of installation. This is done through a competitive application process. at independent assessment panels, on a round by round basis. The £10 million Clear Skies initiative was launched in January 2003 in order to promote the uptake of a number of renewable technologies including solar heating panels. Further details of the initiative, including grant levels for all the technologies supported, can be found on the website at www.clear-skies. org.

The Scottish Executive has its own parallel scheme, the £3.7 million Scottish Community and Household Renewables Initiative, which also offers grants for the installation of solar water heating panels. Householders can get a grant of 30 per cent. up to a maximum of £4,000 for a solar water heating installation. Community organisations can get a 100 per cent. grant up to a maximum of £100,000. Community applications are assessed on essential and desirable criteria and large-scale projects may also be subject to independent technical assessment.

Further details can be found on the website www.est.co.uk/schri.