Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps his Department has taken to help mitigate the environmental impact of data centres in (a) Slough and (b) the South East.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government’s forecasts for data centre demand to 2030 are consistent with its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. The Government expects to be able to meet this demand through its plans to increase renewable power capacity, other low carbon generation and flexible and dispatchable power. The Department is working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in considering potential AI Growth Zone sites and the interaction with delivering our Clean Energy Superpower Mission. The two Departments are jointly running the AI Energy Council, with a meeting and working group on the topic of sustainability currently being set up.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has issued guidance to people affected by multiple planning applications for (a) battery energy storage systems and (b) solar storage near to their villages that have been approved by him.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As Minister for Energy, I do not personally approve any individual planning applications. The Department approves energy projects classified as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, and the process is governed by the Planning Act 2008, which includes some large solar farms, including those with batter storage systems attached. Stand-alone battery energy storage systems are not classed as nationally significant infrastructure. Guidance for nationally significant infrastructure project projects is available on Planning Inspectorate website, including how local communities can engage with the examination process, register as an interest party and raise concerns about proposed developments.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support the use of subsea cables for energy transmission.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

An extensive offshore network is being built to meet the rising demand for electricity and connect new renewable generation. The strategic, coordinated approach National Energy System Operator (NESO) is taking to network planning has allowed them to recommend extensive use of offshore “bootstraps” to reinforce the onshore grid, and design integrated offshore networks in some areas, where they are the most optimised designs. The recommendations in NESO’s recent strategic network plans (‘Pathway to 2030’ (2022) and ‘Beyond 2030’ (2024)) could mean that by 2035, three times as much undersea cabling could be laid than new pylons across Britain.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what comparative estimate his Department has made of the costs of transmitting energy by (a) undersea cables and (b) pylon networks.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department has not conducted its own assessment of the comparative costs of undersea cables and pylon networks. However, in April 2025, the Institution of Engineering and Technology published average lifetime cost estimates which suggest that 400kV AC overhead lines cost approximately £1,190/Megawatt-kilometre (MWkm), while subsea HVDC connections between onshore substations cost around £6,170/MWkm—over 5.2 times more.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many delegates the Government plans to take to the COP30 climate change summit.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy

The size and composition of the UK delegation is still being determined.

In keeping with previous years, the UNFCCC is expected to publish a provisional list of registered participants as COP30 begins, with a final list published a few weeks after COP concludes. This will list all UK delegates who attended COP30.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which delegates the Government plans to take to the COP30 climate change summit.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy

The size and composition of the UK delegation is still being determined.

In keeping with previous years, the UNFCCC is expected to publish a provisional list of registered participants as COP30 begins, with a final list published a few weeks after COP concludes. This will list all UK delegates who attended COP30.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the research entitled Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2024, published on 8 July 2024, how the conversion factors for (a) fuels and (b) well-to-tank fuels were developed.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publish Government Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Conversion Factors for Company Reporting annually. Their scope is defined to be relevant to Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations, following GHG Protocol guidance. The conversion factors for direct emissions from fuels and biofuels are based on the most recent data from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Well-to-tank factors are based on external studies as updated by recent available data.

Further details on how direct and well-to-tank conversion factors for fuels and bioenergy are estimated and updated can be found in the annual methodology report.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the research entitled Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2024, published on 8 July 2024, how the conversion factors for (a) bioenergy and (b) well-to-tank bioenergy were developed.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publish Government Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Conversion Factors for Company Reporting annually. Their scope is defined to be relevant to Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations, following GHG Protocol guidance. The conversion factors for direct emissions from fuels and biofuels are based on the most recent data from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Well-to-tank factors are based on external studies as updated by recent available data.

Further details on how direct and well-to-tank conversion factors for fuels and bioenergy are estimated and updated can be found in the annual methodology report.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he considered introducing (a) carbon leakage protections and (b) carbon border adjustment mechanisms before extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme beyond 2030.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is taking action to continue to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage for UK industry, including working with our international partners to develop a coordinated approach to carbon leakage. The Government also continues to provide protection against carbon leakage through domestic measures, currently reviewing with the UK ETS Authority the approach to the provision of UK ETS free allocation to industrial sectors to ensure it remains fit for purpose, and introducing a UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in 2027. The Government is committed to ensuring that industry can invest in decarbonisation with confidence that this will not be undermined by the risk of carbon leakage throughout the decarbonisation process.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the cost to the UK taxpayer is for the COP30 climate summit.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy

The size and composition of the UK delegation is still being determined, along with various logistical elements. Some costs will only be finalised after the summit concludes.

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