Hansard - United Kingdom Parliament

127W
Written Answers
20 JUNE 2011
Written Answers
128W
from external hazards are either removed, minimised or
tolerated. This may be done by showing that safety
related plant and equipment are designed to meet
appropriate performance criteria against the postulated
external hazard, and by the provision of safety systems
which respond to mitigate the effects of the event.
Radioactive Waste
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy
and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 7 June
2011, Official Report, columns 112-3W, on radioactive
waste, which prospective operators of new nuclear plants
have expressed an interest in entering a radioactive
waste transfer contract. [60545]
Charles Hendry: Three consortia—NNB Genco (EDF
Energy, Centrica), Horizon Nuclear Power (RWE Npower,
E.ON) and NuGeneration (Scottish and Southern Energy,
GDF Suez, Ibedrola) have announced plans to build
new nuclear power stations in the UK. DECC officials
are in regular contact with the three consortia on a
range of issues and this has included discussions relating
to the possibility of entering into a waste transfer
contract at some point in the future.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy
and Climate Change what information his Department
holds on the take up of feed-in tariffs in (a) the UK
and (b) Germany; and if he will make a statement.
[60844]
Gregory Barker: Real time data on feed-in tariffs
(FIT) uptake in the UK are available on Ofgem’s website.
DECC also publishes a monthly summary of these data
on its website. The latest data relate to schemes confirmed
onto the FITs scheme at the end of May 2011. The
following table shows the latest figures and those for
end of March 2011, which was the end of the first full
year of the FITs scheme.
FIT uptake by technology
End March 2011 End May 2011
Technology
Number
Capacity
(kW)
Number
Capacity
(kW)
Anaerobic
3 1,766 4 3,926
digestion
Hydro 205 9,866 214 11,911
Photovoltaics 28,505 77,848 37,640 104,744
Wind 1,329 18,917 1,465 20,326
MicroCHP 98 98 138 139
Total 30,140 108,494 39,461 141,047
The German feed-in tariff system is that country’s
primary renewable energy incentive scheme, covering all
scales (whereas the renewables obligation is the UK’s
primary incentive for large-scale renewable electricity
generation). It has been in operation since 2000, and up
to 2009 it supported 45,677 MW of generation (German
data are from the International Energy Agency, which
collects information on renewable capacity from all
member countries, and 2009 is the latest date for which
data are available).
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for
Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he
has had with the devolved administrations on his decision
to set new feed-in tariffs for small-scale low-carbon
electricity. [61249]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy
and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member
for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), has included Ministers in
the Scottish and Welsh Assembly Governments, and
their officials, in discussions leading up to the recent
decision to introduce new tariffs following the fast track
review of the feed-in tariffs. The FITs scheme does not
apply in Northern Ireland.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State
for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to hold
a comprehensive review of the feed-in tariff scheme.
[61250]
Gregory Barker: On 7 February 2011, the Secretary
of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon.
Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), announced
the start of the first comprehensive review of feed-in
tariffs (FITs). This review is now under way and we are
currently considering responses to a call for evidence on
the review’s scope which formed part of the recently
concluded fast-track consultation on FITs. We are intending
to consult on more detailed proposals in the summer.
Renewable Energy: Heating
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for
Energy and Climate Change whether (a) the renewable
heat incentive and (b) the renewable heat incentive
premium payment will apply to new-build housing.
[59313]
Gregory Barker: The Government plan to introduce
support for households through phase two of the renewable
heat incentive (RHI) in October 2012 alongside the
Green Deal. We are currently looking at the eligibility
criteria and considering whether new build properties
should be supported and will consult on our proposals
by the end of 2011.
Details of the criteria for the renewable heat premium
payment (RH PP) will be available shortly.
Scotland
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for
Energy and Climate Change what proportion of
contracts issued by (a) his Department and (b)
agencies for which he is responsible were awarded to
small and medium-sized enterprises in (i) Scotland, (ii)
South Lanarkshire and (iii) Rutherglen and Hamilton
West constituency in the latest period for which figures
are available. [60201]
Gregory Barker: From April 2010 the Department
for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has awarded
2% of its contracts, amounting to four contracts, to
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in
Scotland. One of these businesses is based in Strathclyde
so could be located in either the South Lanarkshire or
the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency.