Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Barker of Battle and Sarah Newton

Thursday 10th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth) (Con)]

I welcome the Minister’s recent meetings with private sector organisations in Cornwall that are working on deep geothermal and marine energy. Can the Secretary of State confirm that both those exciting technologies will be included in the review of the banding regime for renewables obligation certificates?

[Gregory Barker]

I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s ongoing enthusiasm and determination to fight for geothermal energy. She has made some excellent points. The ROCs banding review will examine those issues and others to ensure that the right incentives are there to drive forward the whole green economy.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Barker of Battle and Sarah Newton

Thursday 16th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth) (Con)]

2. What recent representations he has received on Government support for deep geothermal energy production in the UK.

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

My Department engages regularly with the deep geothermal sector, and believes that that exciting renewable energy source has considerable unexploited potential. I shall be meeting the key players in the sector in the new year.

[Sarah Newton]

I thank the Minister for his helpful response. Deep geothermal power could generate 10% of the United Kingdom’s energy needs. It is a tried and tested technology which provides energy in countries throughout Europe. The last Government did not support that type of power generation, and rejected calls for the introduction of a licensing structure similar to those of other European countries. What are the Government doing to provide support for this important energy sector?

[Gregory Barker]

My hon. Friend has fought a vigorous campaign on behalf of this exciting new form of energy. I am delighted to say that, at my direction, officials are actively examining the practical and legal aspects of an exploration licensing scheme covering geothermal heat and power projects, which will be vital to unlocking the true potential of this renewable energy source.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Barker of Battle and Sarah Newton

Thursday 11th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Gregory Barker]

The right hon. Gentleman makes a serious point and last week I had a very good visit to Stoke and the constituencies of several of his hon. Friends to look at how this problem affects the ceramic industry. I would be happy to talk to him about how we can ensure that we do not unduly undermine the competitiveness of the steel industry.

[Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth) (Con)]

I welcome the Government’s commitment to the renewable heat incentive. What representations has the Minister had to include deep geothermal energy in the RHI?

[Gregory Barker]

There is a lot of interest in geothermal, which is a very exciting technology with much potential. I have had several representations, not least from my hon. Friend, who is a great champion of this new technology. I am working with my officials to see how we can ensure that geothermal is fully exploited in the UK.

Energy Efficiency

Debate between Lord Barker of Battle and Sarah Newton

Wednesday 30th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Newton]

I would be delighted to support my hon. Friend. It is important that schools, hospitals and commercial organisations can benefit from the green deal. There is a huge appetite for people to have renewable energy, but the capital costs can be prohibitive.

[Gregory Barker]

May I quickly assure both my hon. Friends that the commercial sector—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, but the sector in general, too—will be included in the green deal?

[Sarah Newton]

That is extremely welcome news. That is marvellous, and—to return to my ground heat pump manufacturers—they will be able to provide ground heat for businesses, hospitals and schools, as they do at the moment.

I should be grateful if Ministers would consider one other matter in the context of renewable heat, and that is the incentive. The renewable heat incentive, as hon. Members will know, was designed to support the installation of a wide range of renewable heat technologies by compensating owners for the increased capital costs of such systems. I think it is an extremely bold and good idea, and Ministers will be receiving replies to the consultation process that was started by the last Government. Having listened to manufacturers in my constituency, I believe that although it is a good idea, some unfortunate anomalies have crept into the calculation of the tariff.

The Carbon Trust and ground heat pump manufacturers have highlighted an inconsistency in the tariff calculations for the RHI that is having the unintended consequence of effectively doubling the rate of return for air source heat pump installations. It has been well proven that ground source heat pumps are a far more efficient way of producing energy over time than air source pumps. If the tariff continues as it stands in the proposals, it will severely disadvantage the ground source pump industry and other renewable technologies; indeed, it might, sadly, eliminate both of those technologies just when we need to be encouraging businesses to supply and manufacture such products in this country. I would be very grateful if Ministers would urgently review the consultation process and look at the tariff for small air source heat pumps.