Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department plans to provide further information on its long-term plans for the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is making long-term plans to enable UK industry to decarbonize and reach Net Zero. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will update stakeholders as soon as possible on Funds that will be available to industry after the upcoming Spending Review, which will conclude in late spring.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to removing current policy levies from electricity bills (1) to alleviate affordability concerns for vulnerable customers, and (2) to incentivise electrification.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past.
We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we delivered the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households last winter. In February, we published a consultation on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount which would bring around 2.7 million households into the scheme and supporting a total of 6 million households. The consultation has now closed and the Department is evaluating the responses.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to remove (1) legacy renewables policy costs, and (2) climate change levy payments, from energy bills for non-domestic consumers.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to ensuring that energy bills for non-domestic customers are affordable.
Legacy renewable policy costs, such as the Renewables Obligation (RO) and Feed-in Tariff (FiT) schemes, are now closed to new applicants but have brought forward the successful renewable electricity sector that we see today in the UK. This, in turn, is supporting our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 so we can reduce our reliance on international gas markets.
By driving investment in renewables, they have significantly lowered the cost of renewable electricity production over time, leading to a more affordable and sustainable energy future.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of UK energy security.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great Britain’s energy system is diverse and reliable, with the annual Statutory Security of Supply Report 2024 assessing that GB is expected to have sufficient supplies of electricity and gas to meet consumers’ demands over the short and long-term. However, our dependence on fossil fuels has left us vulnerable to global supply shocks and unstable energy prices. The Government's Clean Energy Superpower Mission, supported by the largest investment in home-grown clean energy in British history, will enhance energy security by boosting our energy independence, protecting billpayers, and reducing exposure to global supply shocks.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help develop manufacturing capacity in the offshore renewables sector.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Last week, the Prime Minister announced an initial £300 million investment through Great British Energy to accelerate domestic offshore wind supply chains to boost domestic jobs, mobilise private investment, and secure manufacturing facilities for critical clean energy supply chains.
The Government’s Clean Industry Bonus rewards fixed and floating offshore wind developers who choose to invest in the UK’s poorest communities, or in cleaner manufacturing.
The Government will be publishing its Industrial Strategy in spring and will set out its approach to driving investment and growth in the highest potential sectors, including Clean Energy Industries, creating good jobs.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the grid connections between the proposed new town at Tempsford and the Eaton Socon sub-station to facilitate a new town.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem regulates the network companies to ensure they are investing to operate, maintain and upgrade electricity infrastructure. For the next transmission and distribution network price controls, Ofgem has identified the need for significant investment in new capacity to transform Great Britain’s electricity networks to support clean power and economic growth. Ofgem published their Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) policy framework decision on 2 April and RESPs will feed into planning by Distribution Network Operators to guide network planning decisions and ensure strategic investment in capacity for local areas, like Tempsford.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to introduce regulatory measures to ensure rooftop solar is financially viable compared to utility-scale solar projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Deploying rooftop solar remains a key priority for the Government, and it continues to be one of the most popular and easily deployed renewable energy sources. The Government continues to support the installation of rooftop solar in various ways, including through tax relief, energy efficiency schemes and the Smart Export Guarantee. The Solar Roadmap will shortly be published, setting out actions for the Government and industry to remove barriers to further deployment. Officials are also exploring the potential of various measures to support a range of green retrofit improvements as part of the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the deployment of rooftop and carport solar on commercial buildings through guaranteed minimum export values.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government continues to support solar deployment on commercial rooftops and car parks through the Smart Export Guarantee. This ensures that businesses receive income for excess electricity exported to the grid.
We also intend to support commercial rooftop deployment through other measures, including permitted development rights, and new building standards for newly built commercial buildings. As set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, we have published a call for evidence about solar canopies in car parks.
Solar on car parks and electric vehicle charging - GOV.UK
May. 07 2025
Source Page: Review of consents for major infrastructure projects, SPAs and SACs: habitats regulationsMay. 07 2025
Source Page: Review of consents for major infrastructure projects, SPAs and SACs: habitats regulations