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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government is taking to encourage the use of non- food crops to generate electricity; and if she will make a statement. [117136] Mr. Meacher: The Energy White Paper, published earlier this year, sets out the Government's aim to achieve the production of 20 per cent. of the UK's electricity through renewable sources by 2020. Biomass, including purpose-grown non-food crops, could become one of the largest contributors to the renewables mix by 2020. This Department allocated £29 million under the Energy Crops Scheme to support the planting of short rotation coppice (SRC) and miscanthus, and the setting up of producer groups to supply SRC to energy end- users. 3.5m has been allocated to develop supply chains for energy crops and woodfuel, from harvest to energy end-users.£66 million is available to develop markets for biomass, including energy crops, in heat, combined heat and power, and power generation. Following the award of grants, officials are working closely with project developers to promote the potential of energy crops and biomass. Recently, over 200 farmers attended one such event near Swindon. The co-firing of energy crops with fossil fuels is permitted under the Renewables Obligation. Officials are working closely with the Local Support Teams set up under the Countryside Agency's Community Renewables Initiative, to develop biomass energy projects. At present, energy crops can be planted on set- aside land and receive payments under the Arable Area Payments Scheme.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

117136; 406 c722-3W;406 c722W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Biofuels Electricity generation Forestry Renewable energy Subsidies Trees Tree planting Arable area payments scheme Renewables obligation Non-food crops

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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