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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much methane gas per year is produced by landfill sites in England; how much is put to use; and what plans she has to increase this latter figure. [187548] Mr. Morley: In a report commissioned by Defra it is estimated that in 2000, approximately 660,000 tonnes of methane was emitted from UK landfills, accounting for 27 per cent. of the total methane released from the UK. The amount of methane that is used has significantly increased over the last five years and information held by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) indicates that there is currently 612,674 KW installed capacity at a total of 269 UK landfill gas power stations. This is out of a potential capacity that could be readily exploited for utilisation of approximately 800,000 KW. The proportion of methane in landfill gas that is used has increased in response to two main drivers and is expected to continue to increase. These drivers are: (i) The Landfill Regulations (England and Wales) 2002 These regulations require landfill operators to collect, treat and use landfill gas (e.g. electricity generation) to the extent possible. The requirements for improved landfill gas management form an important part of new landfill permits being permitted by the Environment Agency in accordance with the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) regulatory regime. (ii) The Renewables Obligation As part of its revised policy for renewable energy in the UK, the Government introduced the Renewables Obligation for England and Wales. This Obligation requires power suppliers to derive a specified proportion of the electricity they supply to their customers from renewable resources and includes strong financial incentives for suppliers. Landfill gas currently provides approximately one-quarter of the UK's installed generating capacity for renewable power.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

424 c1673W;424 c1671W; 187548

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Electricity generation Landfill Gas fired power stations Methane

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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