Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Barker of Battle and Mark Spencer

Thursday 12th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Gregory Barker)]

About 13,800 solar PV installations, with a total capacity of 58.5 MW, were confirmed on to the feed-in tariff scheme’s central register in May 2012. I am pleased to report that that is more than double the number of installations—with more than triple the capacity—that were confirmed in the same month last year. Preliminary figures indicate even stronger growth this month.

[Mr Spencer]

Clearly, this is a very popular technology. Given that—and the discussion that has just taken place in the Chamber—might it be time to consider switching subsidy from wind farms to solar panels?

[Gregory Barker]

My hon. Friend is right: it is a very popular technology, and as our reformed FIT scheme is now driving down the costs and helping to promote competition, it is also scalable to a very large scale. Solar will be included properly for the first time in our renewables road map that we will publish later in the year. Solar will have a meaningful part to play in the energy future of Great Britain.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Barker of Battle and Mark Spencer

Thursday 16th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Mark Spencer (Sherwood) (Con)]

21. What plans he has to meet representatives of the heating industry to discuss the proposed green deal for energy efficiency.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Gregory Barker)]

I have recently met heating industry representatives and have invited the heating and hot water taskforce and the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council to be represented on the green deal stakeholder forums that I have established. I want the whole industry to be actively engaged with us on the green deal.

[Mr Spencer]

I am grateful to the Minister for his response. I was interested to hear his response to the question from the hon. Member for St Helens North (Mr Watts) on the consideration of glazing in the green deal. Will the Minister confirm that he will consider the replacement of old and inefficient heating systems in the green deal?

[Gregory Barker]

There will certainly be scope for heating systems to be included in the green deal. We want the green deal to be as technology-inclusive as possible, and we want to drive innovation. Any energy efficiency measure that costs less to install than it pays back over a specified period will be eligible. That includes heating measures.