Written question asked by Tony McWalter (Labour) on Thursday, 10 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 April 2005. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Thursday, 7 April 2005 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the case for continuing funding to companies who are developing photovoltaic cells; and if she will make a statement on the contribution which the photovoltaic industry can make to reduction in carbon emissions.

Answer: Mr. McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the case for continuing funding to companies who are developing photovoltaic cells; and if she will make a statement on the contribution which the photovoltaic industry can make to reduction in carbon emissions. [221637] Mr. Mike O'Brien: [holding answer 21 March 2005]: DTI provides research funding to companies developing photovoltaic (PV) cells through the DTI Technology Programme. The overall research budget for emerging energy technologies is £20 million per annum. Funding for installation of the technology is through the PV Major Demonstration Programme and grants go to householders and public organisations, not direct to the companies installing the technology. The Renewables Innovation Review, published by DTI and The Carbon Trust in February 2004, recommended continued support for research and development into next generation PV technologies. The report stated that PV was not expected to be fully economic compared to retail price until post 2020; however next generation solutions could bring this forward. The Renewables Innovation Review estimated that the potential contribution of PV towards reducing carbon emissions was 3 Mt by 2050 (total contribution from renewable energy aspiration of 20 Mt).

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1632W;432 c1628W; 221637
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Companies Air pollution Carbon Finance Pollution control Technology Research Solar power Photovoltaics
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk