To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assumptions were made about the cost of solar electricity generation in the UK MARKAL-macro model. (179335)

The full results of the MARKAL-macro modelling for the Energy White Paper and are available at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file38979.pdf. The assumptions used for solar photovoltaic power in the MARKAL-macro modelling were provided by AEA Technology and are shown in the following table. The capacity value factors vary according to the season so figures for summer and winter days have been provided. The figures in the final column show the estimated final production cost after taking account of capital cost, capacity factor, operation and maintenance costs and equipment lifetime. The capital costs are assumed to decline over time as a result of technological learning.