Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what studies his Department has made of the effects on the life expectancy and reliability of wind generators of using combined cycle generating turbines to provide balancing capacity.
We do not expect the use of combined cycle generating turbines to have any impact on the life expectancy or reliability of wind turbines.
This Government believes that balancing capacity is best achieved by pursuing a balanced energy policy, comprising a mix of renewables, nuclear, and fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage, to ensure that we are not over-reliant upon any one technology.