Renewable Energy (Hansard, 14 June 2004)

§ Malcolm Bruce
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what target her Department has set for(a) the amount and (b) the percentage of electricity the UK should be obtaining from renewable sources by (i) 2004 and (ii) each year to 2010; what revision to the original renewables obligation targets for electricity from renewable sources has been made since it was introduced; what progress has been made to date; and what assessment she has made of whether the targets will be met within the stipulated tine. [176741]

§ Mr. Timms
The information requested is as follows:
(a) The Government have set the target of 10 per cent. of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2010, but has not set separate targets for each year until that date.
(b) During the first year of Renewables Obligation operation, the UK produced about 1.8 per cent. of its electricity from eligible renewable sources—somewhat below the level of the Renewables Obligation of 3.0 per cent for that period. However, including all renewables sources, the total UK production from renewables for the same period was slightly over 3.0 per cent.
The Government recently announced that the level of the RO would be increased from 2010 rising to 15.4 per cent. by 2015. This will help long-term investment decisions in renewables.
The targets we have set are achievable, but challenging, since we are starting from a low base. However, we are doing all we can to achieve this target. The Government have established a framework for expansion and expect the industry to demonstrate they can achieve our goals at an accept able cost.
We expect the main growth between now and 2010 to come from onshore and offshore wind farms.

§ Mr. David Stewart
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the study commissioned by her Department of the actual and potential impact of community benefits schemes on the deployment of renewable energy projects. [177881]

§ Mr. Timms
[holding answer 10 June 2004]: The Department has commissioned a study of the actual and potential impact of community benefits schemes on the deployment of renewable, especially wind, energy projects. A report is expected later this year.