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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Government have made of the (a) energy and (b) carbon costs of wind farms including (i) the concrete content of foundations, (ii) losses in transmission and (iii) infrastructure such as access roads. [174802] Mr. Timms: While there are some carbon emissions associated with the construction of wind farms and their associated infrastructure these are very small compared to the carbon emissions saved by the wind farm over its lifetime of operation. Wind Energy Fact Sheet 14, which can be found on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/ energy/renewables/publications/pdfs/windfs14.pdf) provides further information on the life cycle emissions from wind farms relative to fossil fuel electricity generating technologies. In relation to transmission losses, these will affect all forms of electricity generation in a similar manner related to the distance transferred, type of power cable transferred through etc. Overall losses in the England and Wales transmission system are approximately 1.5 per cent. but no estimate has been made of what proportion of this energy loss is attributable to wind energy.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

174802; 421 c1684W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Costs Construction Carbon Electricity generation Energy supply Wind power

Link

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