To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 3 March (WA 138), why the use of small wind turbines is allowed if it is not known how much each costs in carbon emissions after manufacture and installation; and why connection to the grid is being contemplated if the cost of such connection in carbon emissions is also unknown. [HL3028]

The issue of embodied carbon has been considered in relation to small wind turbines. However, as set out in the Answer I gave the noble Lord on 2 March 2009, calculations of embodied carbon need to consider a wide range of factors, such as whether materials are recycled, the carbon intensity of the energy used in the manufacturing process, transportation costs, rotor diameter and, most crucially, the height, wind speeds and obstructions near the turbine. For this reason, a range is given in calculations of embodied carbon.

The Energy Saving Trust's recent document Generating the Future: An Analysis of Policy Interventions to Achieve Widespread Small Scale On Site Low Carbon and Renewable Penetration (see www.energysavingtrust.org. uk/corporate/Global-Data/Publications/Generating-the-Future-An-analysis-of-policy-interventions-to-achieve-widespread-microgeneration-penetration) sets out details of energy generation and carbon savings for small-scale energy technologies.

The Government are not aware of specific data for the carbon emissions produced by the grid connection of a small wind turbine. This would relate to the carbon intensity of fuels used for the building works, transportation and maintenance (eg, whether these fuels are oil/diesel/biofuels/electricity).

All renewable and low-carbon technologies have a role to play in reducing carbon. The Government are supporting appropriate, well sited technologies, including small wind turbines through their grants programmes and through the MCS standards (microgeneration certification scheme).