---

Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives she plans to take to increase expenditure on solar energy technology, with specific reference to (a) photovoltaics, (b) solar water heating and (c) solar interseasonal heat storage technologies respectively. [63855] Mr. Wilson: (a) On 26 March I launched the £20 million First Phase of the Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme (MDP), which should result in 3,000 domestic roofs and 140 larger non-residential buildings receiving PV systems over the next three years. In addition, the Domestic and Large Scale Field Trails are already underway with a combined budget of around £10 million. They should result in at least 500 domestic roofs and 15 large public buildings receiving PV installations. Subsequent phases of the MDP are dependent on the success of the First Phase and on sufficient funds being available. (b) Solar Water Heating is a proven and reliable technology with an established but small market in the UK. We are considering support for it, along with other small-scale renewable technologies, under the £10 million Community and Household Scheme, which is currently being designed. An announcement will be made in the autumn and grants are likely to be available by the end of this year. (c) Little work has been done in the UK on interseasonal storage. While heat may be `free' and the technology itself quite simple, the cost of the necessary equipment and infrastructure is the barrier to wider exploitation. We will, however, be keeping a watching brief on seasonal heat storage developments.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

63855; 387 c796W;387 c793-4W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Expenditure Energy Electricity generation Heating Water Solar power Photovoltaics

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk