Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Tombs (Crossbench). It was answered by Lord Sainsbury of Turville (Labour) on Monday, 15 May 2006.

Energy: Renewable

Question: What is their current estimate of the total cumulative cost to electricity consumers of Her Majesty’s Government’s renewable energy strategy, assuming that the target for 2010 and the aspiration for 2020 are both met.

Answer: My Lords, for 1990–2010, the maximum annual cost—I emphasise ““maximum””—of the Government’s renewable energy strategy, assuming that targets are met, is very approximately estimated at £500 million. For 1990–2015 the equivalent estimate is £800 million per annum, and for 1990–2020 it is £1 billion per annum. These figures compare with a current total annual cost of supplying electricity to all consumers in the UK of more than £15 billion.

Secondary information