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Proceeding contribution from Alan Simpson (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 30 April 2008. It occurred during Debate on bill on Energy Bill.


Energy Bill

I have indeed looked into the problem. The German biogas plants have said that they need over 91 per cent. purity to meet the purity standards for biomethane. However, they are delivering methane into the system at 95 per cent. purity, so purity is just not an issue. Accessing the system is a relatively minor technical problem. The greater problem is a political problem and concerns whether we should require the system to be open to inputs in the way that the German system is. The key is an acceptance of the need for a progressive shift to decentralised energy systems. The economic arguments against feed-in tariffs do not stack up. I have repeatedly asked the Minister and the Departments to come up with the figures to justify that. I am happy to have them tested against other, international experience of doing what we are told is not possible in Britain. So far I have not had that evidence, but if we are making a claim, we ought to stand it up to be tested.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
475 c363 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Decommissioning Climate change Billing Licensing Inspections Environment protection Health hazards Energy Electricity Hazardous substances Natural gas Nuclear power Pollution control Meters Microgeneration Offshore industry Renewable energy Waste disposal Hydroelectric power
Legislation
Energy Bill 2007-08
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk