I am not aware of any Dutch grant scheme specific to on-farm small scale wind powered generators but if the Deputy has other information I would be glad to receive it. In September last, I published my Green Paper on Sustainable Energy. One of the objectives of the paper is to promote the increased use of alternative and renewable sources of energy for electricity generation and to do so in a way which maintains the competitiveness of the sector.
In this regard I have increased the target for additional renewable based electricity generating plant from 186 megawatts (MWe) to 500 MWe to be installed in the period 2,000-2,005. The bulk of the increased target will come from the wind energy sector.
I have stated on a number of occasions my commitment to participation by local communities, including the farming sector, in renewable energy developments. However, I recognise that there are constraints to the widespread deployment of renewable energy technologies. In that context, I have established a renewable energy strategy group tasked to examine all aspects of, and obstacles to, the further deployment of these technologies. Among the issues that the group will examine will be the factors which impede the development of small scale renewable energy projects and the prospects for net metering and billing, which, if feasible, would enhance the outlook for micro-scale projects. In that context, the question of additional support measures for such projects will be examined. The group commenced its study in November 1999 and will report back to me on the wind energy market by the end of June this year.