Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Turner Excerpts
Thursday 8th March 2012

(12 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Barker of Battle Portrait Gregory Barker
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The German cuts are now going further and faster than those that we are proposing. We think that solar is a very dynamic technology that is up to the challenge. If costs continue to come down and it becomes competitive with fossil fuels by the middle of the decade, as we believe it might, we could see 22 GW of solar capacity installed by 2020.

Andrew Turner Portrait Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con)
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10. What his policy is on encouraging onshore wind energy production.

Chris Heaton-Harris Portrait Chris Heaton-Harris (Daventry) (Con)
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13. What his policy is on encouraging onshore wind energy production.

Ed Davey Portrait The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Mr Edward Davey)
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A responsible energy policy for this country is one that includes onshore wind. Well-sited wind farms, offering the benefits to local communities that we are introducing, are one of the cheapest ways of cutting our dependence on imported gas over the next decade and keeping emissions down.

Andrew Turner Portrait Mr Turner
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I thank the Minister for that answer. Is he aware of the new blade tip generation technology, which is more efficient than traditional turbines and can be installed with no lasting adverse effect on the countryside? Will he support moves to manufacture this innovative form of renewable energy on the Isle of Wight in support of the eco island initiative?

Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
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I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s question. It is good to see examples of the economic benefits that wind power can bring. We are aware of companies developing new technologies for turbines, including for small-scale wind power generation such as the blade tip technology he cites. The support we provide for wind power generation in the UK will encourage use of appropriately sited and efficient wind developments.