Malcolm Wicks will today bring to his first speech as Energy Minister evidence of the Government's determination to press ahead on renewable energy. Speaking at the All-Energy conference in Aberdeen, Malcolm will say:

"I want there to be no doubt of our determination to push ahead on renewables. Energy policy was set in the White Paper for the long term and our target of generating 10% of electricity from renewables by 2010 is central to it. This will help us to meet our climate change commitments and build reliable energy supplies."

Malcolm will highlight news from his Department on wind, tidal and solar power:

• Approval following public inquiry for the Scout Moor 26 turbine wind farm in Greater Manchester, generating enough electricity to power 30,000 homes.
• £2.68m Government funding for Newcastle-based SMDHydrovision's "TidEl" tidal energy prototype to be developed and tested at Orkney's world-leading European Marine Energy Centre.
• £1.35m funding this week for 14 new solar installations across the UK, bringing total funding for medium and large scale solar since 2002 to £18.8m.

He will say:

"The Sustainable Development Commission last week reiterated the terrific potential of wind power. Our decision to give the go-ahead for Scout Moor was taken after extensive and thorough consideration of the representations I received, both for and against consent being granted. The independent public inquiry ensured that community and environmental concerns were heard. Approval takes into account the concerns raised, and includes a number of conditions recommended by the inquiry Inspector to mitigate any impacts."

"We're also investing heavily in emerging technologies, and have committed some £500m in capital funding since 2002. Yesterday I awarded £1.35m to 14 solar projects across the country and today I'm announcing £2.68m for TidEl, a cutting edge tidal prototype.

"The TidEl project is a good example of technologies being produced by the UK's marine energy industry. The project demonstrates the opportunities for UK companies, as well as the attractiveness of the UK as a place to locate and develop these technologies. Our support for initiatives by companies such as Newcastle's SMDHydrovision is designed to ensure that we maintain Britain's leading position, while promoting the generation of clean and sustainable electricity.

"New tidal energy testing facilities at the European Marine Energy Centre are set to boost the development of this and other marine energy technologies, reinforcing the role of Orkney and Scotland at the forefront of renewables development."

John Reece, Managing Director of SMDHydrovision said:

"We are delighted to be awarded this grant which as well as allowing the project to proceed also represents a vote of confidence in our technology. We are greatly looking forward to working with our partners and suppliers to reach a successful conclusion at the European Marine Energy Centre next year and to carry on with developments thereafter."

Notes to Editors

1.Malcolm Wicks will be making his first speech since being appointed Energy Minister today at 3.45pm at the All-Energy renewables conference at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

2.The 2003 Energy White Paper established a target of 10% of electricity supply from renewables by 2010 and an aspiration to double that to 20% by 2020. The Government has announced significant support for renewable and low carbon energy sources comprising capital grants and research & development totalling some £500 million. It has also introduced the Renewables Obligation which ensures all electricity suppliers produce a specified and increasing amount of energy from renewable sources. The Renewables Obligation is expected to be worth £1billion a year to the industry by 2010.

3.The decision to go ahead with the Scout Moor windfarm project will allow the construction of 26 turbines with a capacity of 65 MW, at Scout Moor, near Rochdale. Following objections by relevant local planning authorities, the Government held a public inquiry into the application and appointed Keith Durrant, an Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate to preside over it. The inquiry was held between 23 November and 15 December 2004, and on 9 and 10 March 2005. Mr Durant recommended the application be granted.

4.Consent to build and operate power stations with a capacity greater than 50 MW is required under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. The developers were also required to lodge a separate application relating to land exchanges, under Section 147 of the Inclosure Act 1845. This will be decided on by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

5.Public copies of the decision letter and consent are available from Gary Mohammed, DTI, email gary.mohammed@dti.gov.uk or tel 020 7215 2880.

Wave and tidal funding

6.SMDHydrovision plans to construct the 1MW TidEl prototype device, building on the successful 1/10 model tests carried out at the NaREC facility in Blyth, Northumberland. The new machine is due to be installed for testing at new tidal facilities at the European Marine Energy Centre on Orkney later this year. TidEl uses a pair of buoyant turbines anchored to the sea bed by mooring chains, to extract power from tidal flows. The system is invisible from above the ocean surface. If testing is successful, the company expects this to lead to larger pre-commercial deployments, which could be supported under the DTI's wave and tidal stream demonstration scheme.

7.Today's grant is in addition to a series of previously-announced Government funding commitments to bring forward the development of wave and tidal energy. DTI has already committed in excess of £20m towards research and development of wave and tidal energy technologies over the last 5 years. On 2 August 2004 the DTI announced a new £50 million Marine Renewable Deployment Fund. The purpose of the new fund is to take forward the recommendations of the Renewables Innovation Review. The DTI announced in January 2005 that up to £42 million of this would be allocated towards supporting a number of larger scale pre-commercial demonstration wave and tidal farms. Support under the scheme will be a combination of grant and revenue support, which could see the first large-scale marine generation farms feeding the national grid within three years.

8.For more information about TidEl, contact SMDHydrovision's Managing Director John Reece on 0191 234 2222.

Solar photovoltaic demonstration grants

9.Malcolm Wicks announced yesterday (Tuesday) that 14 new solar photovoltaic energy projects across the UK will receive £1.35 million in funding. This brings the total amount awarded to medium and large-scale projects since 2002 to £18.8 million. See Press Notice P/2005/160 for more detail.