§ Lord Dixon-Smithasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a wind power electricity generating company has any duty to provide electricity generating capacity in the event of there being no wind. [HL3067]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleUnder the current energy market, there are strong incentives on generators to deliver the power they are contracted to deliver. Wind generators are no different from any other generators in that they have to enter into contracts in the knowledge that their capacity may or may not be available at any given time. Since, by its nature, wind power is intermittent, wind generators have to deal with intermittency, but similarly other generators will seek to enter into contracts that cover them in the event that their plant is unavailable, for example because a technical problem suddenly occurs.
§ Lord Dixon-Smithasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the event that back-up electricity generating capacity is required due to failure to supply electricity by a wind power generating company resulting from a lack of wind, who is responsible for paying the climate change levy resulting from any carbon dioxide emissions consequent on that failure. [HL3068]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThere will be no climate change levy due consequent on a short-term failure of supply from a wind power generating company. The wind power generator will, however, be required to ensure that, over time, the amount of levy-free electricity claimed by its customers is equal to the amount of wind power-derived electricity delivered to the grid.