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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will make a statement on the role of wood-burning fuel in the Government's renewable energy policy; and what steps the Government is taking to encourage its promotion as an alternative source of heat production; [106805] (2) how much funding the Government has allocated towards (a) the creation and development of energy crops and (b) the utilisation of fuel wood from existing forests, with regard to the aim of heat production. [106806] Mr. Wilson: The Government recognises that wood- burning fuel has significant potential in the UK. Wood fuel is an eligible source for the Renewable Obligations, which came into force on 1 April 2002, and electricity supplied by generators fired on wood fuel will qualify for Renewable Obligation Certificates in dedicated biomass plant or through co-firing under certain conditions. A number of programmes have been launched to support and promote bioenergy in the UK, including utilisation of wood fuel. £66 million has been made available by DTI and the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund to stimulate early deployment of biomass-fired technology for heat, combined heat and power and electricity generation. From this allocation, grants worth over £4 million were announced in January to support the establishment of wood-fired heat clusters throughout the UK. DEFRA, as part of its England Rural Development Programme, has made available £29 million for the establishment of energy crops including short rotation coppice (SRC) under the Energy Crops Scheme. The Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, co-ordinated by the Forestry Commission in mainland UK and Forest Services in Northern Ireland, provides grants to create and manage woodland, which can help in the production of wood fuel. The Woodland Grant Scheme also supports the establishment of SRC in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Clear Skies Initiative, a £10 million grants programme launched by DTI in February, supports eligible community and domestic wood fired heating projects.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

402 c787-8W;402 c788-9W; 106805;106806

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Crops Biofuels Finance Energy Electricity generation Heating Forests Renewable energy Timber

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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