Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Lavery Excerpts

Thursday 16th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

I can tell my hon. Friend that there is no need for a lessons-learned exercise, because the offshore wind industry is in very healthy form. Of course, one or two projects will not go ahead—that may be for geological reasons, such as the one off the north Devon coast—but that is nothing to do with our regime. Some offshore wind projects will not get contracts for difference, but that is because we are going for the best value-for-money projects.

The good news is that we have more installed offshore wind capacity in this country than in any other country. According to independent analysis, we are the best place to come and invest in offshore wind. When we announce those who have won the go-early CfDs in March, I am very confident that more offshore wind will come forward.

[Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab)]

The emission level of coal is roughly 820g of CO₂ per kWh, and the emission level of natural gas is roughly 430g of CO₂ per kWh. Will the Minister say what he expects the emission level of shale gas to be?

[Michael Fallon]

We have published a study by the chief scientist at the Department on the likely emission level of shale gas. Let me take this opportunity to tell the House that we have of course now signed on the first carbon capture and storage project at Drax, which I hope that the hon. Gentleman will welcome. We hope to follow that with the second CCS project in Scotland very shortly.