To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the amount of black carbon which would be emitted consequent upon achieving biomass targets as set out in his Department's renewable energy strategy. (300406)

[holding answer 23 November 2009]: Specific estimates of black carbon emission have not been made in support of the development of the Renewable Energy Strategy.

The emissions of black carbon for each unit of heat delivered are likely to decrease in future as a result of measures announced in the Government's Renewable Energy Strategy. Efficient modern biomass appliances have advanced combustion control systems. When maintained adequately and fuelled correctly, the particles emitted under normal operating conditions are primarily composed of the inorganic salts naturally present in the wood, not carbonaceous material.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent on the renewable energy sector in each of the last five years; what the purpose is of the £18 million additional funding for the UK clean energy sector available via the Carbon Trust; and how many green start-up renewable energy companies (a) have had and (b) will receive such funding from the Carbon Trust. (300499)

According to recent research published by the Carbon Trust building on research by New Energy Finance, total UK venture capital clean energy¹ investment (including renewables) between 2003 and 2008 was:

¹ We do not hold independent data for overall renewable technology investment separate from clean energy.

The purpose of the up to £18 million additional venture capital investment available via the Carbon Trust is to meet the current market failure in the provision of private sector venture capital investment for early stage low carbon companies.

Since the Carbon Trust was set up, it has provided funding to 17 green start-up energy companies investing over £13.5m. This funding has also helped these businesses to leverage over £117 million of private sector investment.

No investments have yet been made from the £18 million additional funding but four companies are in due diligence and a further 10 are under active consideration.