Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Humber's Viking carbon capture project on levels of investment in the area.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

A strong UK CCUS sector will support well paid, highly-skilled jobs across the UK, with DESNZ analysis showing CCUS has the potential to generate £4-5 billion GVA per year and support up to 50,000 jobs in the 2030s across the CCUS industry as the sector matures. We recognise the potential of the Track-2 clusters, including Viking, to build on this momentum, and officials have continued to engage with Viking CCS to understand their plans and continue to review the potential impact of the project on local investments.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on considering the transfer of the British Coal Superannuation Scheme to its members.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

I met with Trustees of the BCSSS on 22nd April 2025 and analysis to support decision making has now been commissioned jointly by the Trustees and the Department from the Government Actuarial Department.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of removing the social housing obligation from future iterations of the Energy Company Obligation scheme on the retrofit measures provided to fuel poor households.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We are committed to meeting fuel poverty and Net Zero targets, and we are currently considering what policy mix will best achieve that, including what role energy company obligations should play post-2026.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the upgrading of rented homes to Energy Performance Certificate C on housing supply.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation included proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030 and was accompanied by the Department’s impact assessment. The assessment makes clear that we are unable to quantify the extent to which this will impact the supply of properties, as landlords may take different approaches and the policy is not yet finalised. The consultation closed on the 2^nd May and we are currently reviewing responses and supporting evidence. Following this, a government response and further impact assessment will be published.

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 vulnerable people with fluctuations in the cost of energy.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary 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, including vulnerable individuals, 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.

However, we recognise the need to support vulnerable households struggling with their bills as we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we delivered the £150 Warm Home Discount to around 3 million households last winter. In February, we published a consultation to expand the Warm Home Discount to bring an extra 2.7 million households into the scheme, which would push the total number of eligible households up to around 6 million households from next winter. The consultation has now closed, and the Department is evaluating responses.

I urge any vulnerable households struggling with their energy bills to contact their supplier, local authority, or Citizens Advice to see what support they can receive.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how his Department is ensuring the (a) transparency and (b) accountability of carbon capture projects funded by public money.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has developed a series of models to incentivise behaviour in line with our objectives and deliver value for money for consumers and taxpayers. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority provides oversight of the Programme, as a Government’s Major Projects Portfolio, through Gateway Reviews and reporting, and the programme has been subject to National Audit Office reviews and Public Accounts Committee hearings. Partner organisations, such as OFGEM, Low Carbon Contracts Company, and Central Grants and Loans have a key role in providing accountability through monitoring the performance of the Transport & Storage Companies and emitters. The contracts set out regulations according to which support can be withdrawn where key milestones are not met. The Full Business Cases and associated assessments will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the long-term (a) safety and (b) environmental impact of carbon capture facilities.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Carbon capture and the transport and storage of CO2 are safe technologies underpinned by strong regulatory frameworks to mitigate potential risks associated with those activities.

There are several regulators in the UK in place to protect human health and the environment, including: Environment Agency (EA) Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Natural Resources Wales and SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)

Additionally, the storage permit, regulated by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), for a storage site will only be issued when the NSTA are confident that there will be no significant risk of leakage or of harm to the environment and human health from the CO₂ storage.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential risks of carbon capture and storage facilities.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Carbon capture and the transport and storage of CO2 are safe technologies underpinned by strong regulatory frameworks to mitigate potential risks associated with those activities.

There are several regulators in the UK in place to protect human health and the environment, including: Environment Agency (EA) Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Natural Resources Wales and SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)

Additionally, the storage permit, regulated by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), for a storage site will only be issued when the NSTA are confident that there will be no significant risk of leakage or of harm to the environment and human health from the CO₂ storage.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the value for money of the Energy Company Obligation scheme.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) requires energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency and heating upgrades in eligible homes, with costs recovered through consumer bills. Since 2013, 4.2 million measures have been installed in 2.5 million homes. ECO4’s final impact assessment projected a positive net present value of £0.8 billion, underscoring the strong social impact and economic value of ECO.

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 ensure that carbon capture and storage does not disproportionately impact energy bills for consumers.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is committed to ensuring that the costs of the UK’s transition to Net Zero are fair and affordable for all energy consumers.

The CCUS programme will be funded through a mixture of levy and government funding. We have created several business models to fund CCUS projects based on the technology they are using, designed to support this nascent industry whilst ensuring value for money.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timeline is for the carbon capture sites in Merseyside and Teesside.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Having reached financial close with East Coast Cluster in December 2024, and with the HyNet Transport and Storage Company, operated by Liverpool Bay CCS, in April 2025, construction is already underway, and we expect the Transport & Storage Companies to be operational from 2028. We continue to negotiate with other Track-1 projects and hope to conclude these negotiations as soon as possible subject to several assessments, including value for money.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost of decarbonising the electricity grid by 2030.

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

NESO's analysis confirmed delivering clean power by 2030 is deliverable, more secure, and could see a lower cost of electricity, and lower bills.

We are committed to working with industry to grow our clean energy system with once-in-a-generation levels of energy investment – an estimated £40 billion, the vast majority of which will come from the private sector.

The Government is leveraging public finance institutions like the National Wealth Fund and Great British Energy to catalyse private investment. By providing early-stage funding, de-risking projects, and supporting the development of critical infrastructure, we aim to attract private capital and accelerate the deployment of clean power technologies.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of resilience of the national grid in the context of the potential disruption of offshore energy infrastructure.

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

Great Britain has a highly resilient energy network with diverse sources of supply and maintaining the security of electricity supply is a key priority for Government.

We are working with the National Protective Security Authority, the energy industry, regulators and other stakeholders to continually improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure. We work to reduce the vulnerability of networks and assets, taking into account a range of threats and future system changes.

The National Energy System Operator can balance the system in a wide range of scenarios, including potential disruptions to offshore infrastructure.

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 reduce industrial carbon emissions.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Emissions savings through fuel switching from fossil fuels to low carbon alternatives, improvements in resource and energy efficiency and industrial carbon capture are all needed for the industrial sector to transition to net zero, and government is developing a suite of policies to deliver these savings.

We will bring forward a clear plan for industrial decarbonisation. A new Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy will set the strategic direction for our approach to working with industry towards a competitive and low carbon industrial base in the UK, ensuring growth opportunities are captured in tandem with emissions reductions.

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 North Sea oil and gas sector.

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

The Government has consulted on ‘Building the North Sea’s Energy Future’, setting out its overarching objective to make the North Sea a world leading example of an offshore clean energy industry and on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields. A response setting out its next steps will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism on the costs of installing new gas boilers.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Clean Heat Market Mechanism does not require any change in the price of fossil fuel boilers.

The Government took steps before introducing the scheme to revise the 2023 proposals in order to reduce impacts on boiler manufacturers and provide them more time to scale up supply chains.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to publish a new Carbon Budget Delivery Plan.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We will deliver an updated plan by 29 October 2025.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether people living near (a) new and (b) certain upgraded network transmission infrastructure and who would otherwise be an eligible person under clause 22 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill but their (i) landlord and (ii) park home site owner pays for their electricity and therefore they do not have a direct relationship to an electricity supplier will be eligible for any financial benefit scheme; and whether that financial benefit will be in the form of (A) electricity bill discounts and (B) compensation.

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

We know that some eligible households do not have a direct relationship with an electricity supplier, so will not be able to receive a bill discount automatically. This includes households whose electricity is paid by their landlord or park home site owner. We want to ensure that these households benefit from hosting new electricity network transmission infrastructure and are putting measures in place to ensure that persons living in such properties can benefit. The exact delivery methods of financial benefit for these households are under consideration and will be subject to stakeholder consultation.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Great British Energy on household energy bills.

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

In an unstable world, the only way to guarantee energy security and protect billpayers is to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. That is why government has a mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

We have a sustainable, long-term plan to protect all UK billpayers from volatile international gas markets. Backed by £8.3 billion, Great British Energy is part of this plan, driving the deployment of the clean, homegrown energy we need to boost our energy independence. As a publicly owned company, Great British Energy will ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers, and communities reap the benefits of this plan.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners living in households in fuel poverty in Aldridge-Brownhills constituency.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) does not collect local-level data specifically on pensioners in fuel poverty. The latest estimate of the fuel poverty rate in the Aldridge-Brownhills constituency, based on the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) metric, was 13.2% of households in 2023 (Table 3 of the sub-regional fuel poverty statistics).

Statistics on fuel poverty in England in 2024 by age of the oldest person in the household can be found in Table 23 of the fuel poverty detailed tables.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he is taking steps to financially support oil and gas workers during the transition away from fossil fuels.

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

The Government is committed to a managed just transition for the North Sea, supporting affected regions and communities as the energy system evolves. It recently consulted on ‘Building the North Sea’s Energy Future’ to unlock long-term clean energy investment in the basin while delivering economic opportunities across the affected regions. A response setting out its next steps will be published in due course. The Office for Clean Energy Jobs will continue to coordinate work to support building the skilled workforce we need for the clean energy and net zero transition.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of funding to tackle fuel poverty has been allocated to home insulation.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Fuel poverty policy is devolved with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero having responsibility for England. The Government has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years.

There are multiple targeted schemes in place to deliver energy efficiency measures, low carbon heating and insulation measures to low income and fuel poor households in England. Schemes include the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), the Great British Insulation Scheme, the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (formerly the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund), and the new Warm Homes: Local Grant.

The Government's review of the 2021 fuel poverty strategy confirms that a new plan is needed to accelerate progress to alleviate fuel poverty. We have therefore consulted on a revised fuel poverty strategy focusing on improving the energy performance of homes, supporting low-income households with energy affordability and protecting them from high prices. The consultation closed on 4 April and we are considering the responses received.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, how the figure of the average cost to landlords of complying with the proposals to upgrade their properties was calculated.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Estimates were provided in the consultation stage Options Assessment (DESNZ001(OA)-25-NZBI).

The average cost to landlords of complying with the proposals to upgrade their properties was calculated by dividing the total undiscounted capital expenditure required to meet the standards by the number of properties upgraded. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

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 disabled households with additional energy costs from (a) medical equipment and (b) home adaptions.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government knows that more needs to be done to support vulnerable households which are struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power, particularly those where energy costs are high out of medical necessity. The Department’s Warm Home Discount (WHD) provides a £150 rebate off winter energy bills for eligible low-income households. On 25 February, we published a consultation on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would bring around 2.7 million households into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The Warm Home Discount regulations expire in 2026, and we will want to consider all options for future bill support beyond this point.

In the interim, I appreciate that one of the biggest practical barriers to providing help to households that need it, is the availability of the right data to target financial support and advice. The Department is working closely with other government departments to unlock the data that will enable us to target support more effectively to those who need help with their energy bills.

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 reduce household energy bills.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary 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.

The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. 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 are delivering the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households this winter. On 25 February, we published a consultation on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would bring around 2.7 million households into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The consultation has now closed and the Department is evaluating the responses.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Grimsby to Walpole pylon project on (a) farm and (b) wild animals on the route.

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

Developers of the Grimsby to Walpole project, like all nationally significant infrastructure projects in England and Wales, are required to assess the impacts of their proposals. This includes conducting assessments of the project's potential effects on the environment, including farmland and wild animals, through Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Assessments.

Developers also engage with statutory and non-statutory stakeholders, including farmers and environmental organisations, through consultations to ensure their feedback is considered and incorporated into project proposals. The government does not make assessments for specific projects until they come to the Secretary of State for a final planning decision.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on whether changes to minimum energy performance standards for the private rented sector will apply to fixed-term accommodation for irregular migrants procured by the Home Office.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation closed on 2nd May and we are currently reviewing responses and the evidence submitted. Whether accommodation falls within scope of new standards will depend on the type of tenancy. Currently, if a property is let on an assured tenancy, regulated tenancy, or domestic agricultural tenancy, and is legally required to have an EPC, then it will need to meet the minimum energy efficiency standard, unless a valid exemption applies.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will meet with Ofgem to discuss poor practice in the recouping of (a) missed and (b) underpaid payments in the energy sector.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department has regular meetings with Ofgem on a number of issues.

The Government takes the issue of accurate billing very seriously. All suppliers must take all reasonable steps to reflect accurate meter readings in bills or statements sent to customers where these have been provided by a customer or obtained by the supplier. This is also laid out in the Ofgem’s licence conditions. Specifically,

• Ofgem’s Supplier Licence Conditions 21BA is clear that a back-bill can only be provided to a customer for electricity or gas used more than 12 months ago if they were not correctly billed for it at the time.
• Ofgem’s Supplier Licence Conditions 31I states that suppliers must ensure that domestic customers are provided with due notice prior to any increase in charges.

All energy suppliers must follow Ofgem’s enforceable overarching principles of the Standard Licence Conditions 0 and 0A. These are a set of broad and enforceable ‘standards of conduct’ principles that set fundamental expectations on how suppliers must ensure fair treatment of each customer. These principles guide supplier behaviour, information provision, and customer service processes.

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 growth in domestic clean energy supply chains.

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

The Government’s upcoming Industrial Strategy will outline plans to boost high-potential sectors like Clean Energy, creating quality jobs. An initial £300 million via Great British Energy will accelerate offshore wind supply chains, attract private investment, and secure UK manufacturing. Up to £21.7 billion over 25 years has been made available for the first carbon capture projects, which are expected to support 4,000 direct jobs and up to 50,000 as the sector matures into the 2030s. The Solar Roadmap will soon outline steps for resilient solar supply chains. Government also continues to strengthen the nuclear supply chain in partnership with industry.

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 align UK oil and gas production with climate targets.

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

The UK is committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels and meeting global climate targets.

The Government supports action on decarbonising oil and gas production and has already consulted on revised environmental guidance to take into account emissions from burning extracted oil and gas. We will respond to this consultation in due course and developers will be able to apply for consents under this revised regime.

The Government has also consulted on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields and will publish a response setting out our next steps in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of reaching 24GW of nuclear capacity by 2050.

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

The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan makes clear that nuclear will play an important role in our future energy system, providing low-carbon, baseload power to the grid. Government will continue to seek to streamline regulatory processes, and foster innovation in nuclear technology, to ensure that nuclear continues to play an important role in the net zero transition after 2030.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many meetings his Department has had with (a) representatives of commercial nuclear manufacturers, (b) power utilities interested in building a new nuclear plant and (c) non-governmental organisations concerned with nuclear power in the last six months; and if he will publish the minutes of each meeting.

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

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of (a) the comparative efficiency and (b) cost-effectiveness of (i) improving the thermal efficiency of existing Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations and (ii) investing in small modular nuclear reactors.

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

No direct assessment has been made of the impact of more efficient CCGTs on wholesale electricity prices, nor of the efficiency of CCGTs versus small modular reactors.

An efficient electricity system needs a range of technologies to ensure that we reach our carbon goals while ensuring cost-effective energy security. Increasing participation of renewables in the wholesale market means that, over time, those technologies will determine the price more often and gas will play a much more limited role in setting the market price.

Improving efficiency of CCGTs is a commercial decision for plant operators.

Great British Nuclear (GBN) is driving forward its small modular reactor (SMR) competition for UK deployment. As with any technology, the economic case for SMRs would be factored into any investment decision.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of improving the efficiency of existing Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations on wholesale electricity prices.

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

No direct assessment has been made of the impact of more efficient CCGTs on wholesale electricity prices, nor of the efficiency of CCGTs versus small modular reactors.

An efficient electricity system needs a range of technologies to ensure that we reach our carbon goals while ensuring cost-effective energy security. Increasing participation of renewables in the wholesale market means that, over time, those technologies will determine the price more often and gas will play a much more limited role in setting the market price.

Improving efficiency of CCGTs is a commercial decision for plant operators.

Great British Nuclear (GBN) is driving forward its small modular reactor (SMR) competition for UK deployment. As with any technology, the economic case for SMRs would be factored into any investment decision.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total electricity generation capacity by hydroelectric power plants in (1) England, (2) Scotland, and (3) Wales.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Electricity generation capacity for hydroelectric power plants is published in Energy Trends table 6.1, available on gov.uk.

At the end of 2024 the installed capacity for hydroelectric power plants was: (1) England 43 MW, (2) Scotland 1,668 MW and (3) Wales 168 MW.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards meeting their clean energy targets by 2030, and what assessment they have made of the impact of these targets on in high-energy-use sectors

Answered by Baroness Curran

We are making strong progress towards Clean Power 2030. Last month, the Prime Minister announced £300 million of investment to boost offshore wind supply chains, Ofgem approved major grid reforms to unlock investment and accelerate connections.

We have also introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which will speed up the approval process for nationally significant infrastructure projects. These changes will help deliver major infrastructure projects, including wind, solar, and hydrogen, in this Parliament.

The National Energy System Operators independent analysis shows that a clean power system will protect families and business from volatile fossil fuel markets, and can be delivered without increasing costs to consumers and business.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of prioritising upgrades to the National Grid at (a) major visitor attractions and (b) areas of high public footfall to support the expansion of (i) electric vehicle charging infrastructure and (ii) on-site renewables.

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

The electricity networks in Great Britain are owned and operated by private companies and regulated independently by Ofgem, who ensure the network companies are investing to operate, maintain and upgrade their infrastructure. To enable the Government’s Clean Energy Superpower and Growth missions, significant investment in new capacity ahead of need is required. This will be based on, among other considerations, strategic planning and projections of future demand across the network and will support the connection of new on-site renewable generation and demand projects, including electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

As of 1 May 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of 79,326 publicly available charging devices (including 15,856 rapid charging devices). This reflects a year-on-year percentage increase of 30%. Policy on charging infrastructure is devolved in Scotland.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the number of radio teleswitch service meters in use in (a) Wales, (b) Gwynedd and (c) Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Most recent figures provided to the Department from Ofgem indicates that as of 2nd May there were c.9,500 RTS meters remaining in Wales.

Ofgem does not collect constituency level data on RTS meters from suppliers.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 52787 on Offshore Industry: Carbon Emissions, how many offshore oil and gas projects are awaiting the resumption of environmental impact assessment evaluations.

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

There are a variety of factors beyond the publication of the guidance that will influence a developer’s decisions on whether to proceed with a project, so it is therefore difficult to predict the exact number of projects waiting to commence the environmental impact assessment process.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made with their plans to develop carbon capture and storage projects.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The East Coast Cluster reached financial close in December 2024 and the HyNet Transport and Storage Network, operated by Liverpool Bay CCS, reached financial close in April 2025, with Government signing contracts with industry to get the first CCUS projects up and running. These two clusters will help remove up to 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year and are due to start operating from 2028.

Officials have continued to engage with Track-2 clusters to understand their plans. We recognise industry will be hoping for clarity on Track-2 - and future CCUS clusters – and further details will be provided in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to invest in new energy infrastructure, and whether they intend to focus more on (1) renewable, or (2) nuclear, energy generation focus for future energy development.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The Government will enable investment in a range of generating technologies to ensure a reliable supply of clean power to meet rising demand. For instance, the UK ’s public finance institutions deliver a range of financing tools to support government policy goals in line with their government set mandates.

The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan outlines a path where renewables and nuclear will form the backbone of a clean electricity system by 2030, supporting the UK’s Net Zero target.

The UK is expanding its nuclear power offer. Nuclear power, as one of the most reliable, secure, low-carbon sources of electricity, is and will continue to be an essential part of the energy mix on our journey to net zero by 2050.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the final investment decision for the Sizewell C plant will be made, and when the results of the small modular reactor competition will be announced.

Answered by Baroness Curran

As confirmed at the Autum Budget, both the equity and debt raise processes are in their final stages. A final decision on whether to proceed with the project will be made at the Spending Review.

Great British Nuclear is driving forward its small modular reactor competition for UK deployment. Following a period of detailed negotiation, bidders have submitted final tenders, which Great British Nuclear is evaluating. Final decisions will be taken shortly.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that output in UK energy-intensive industries has fallen to a 35-year low, and of the impact of rising energy costs on that sector.

Answered by Baroness Curran

Ministers meet frequently with representatives of sectors to discuss challenges faced by manufacturers, including high energy costs. Government is committed to continuing to listen and engage with the sectors.

For Energy Intensive Industries overall, our Clean Power 2030 target is the key to long-term sustainable price reductions. Our mission is for clean power by 2030 because clean, homegrown energy is the best way to protect billpayers and boost Britain's energy independence. We are also already bringing energy costs for UK industries closer in line with other major economies through the British Industry Supercharger. This fully exempts eligible firms from certain costs linked to renewable energy policies, particularly those exposed to the high cost of electricity. Government will always keep support under review based on the needs of industry.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual cost of Great British Energy.

Answered by Baroness Curran

Great British Energy has an estimated total expenditure of £184,403,000 for 2025-26 as set out in the Main Supply Estimates for 2025-26 published by HM Treasury on 15 May 2025.

This constitutes £34,403,000 for Resource Departmental Expenditure and £150,000,000 Capital Departmental Expenditure.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the practice of importing energy from other countries during periods of high demand; and what assessment they have made of how that practice affects the stability of the UK's energy supply.

Answered by Baroness Curran

Importing cheaper electricity during peak times reduces the need to turn on carbon-intensive domestic generation. By providing access to a more diverse generation pool that complements our domestic energy mix, interconnectors can help to ensure security of supply in a range of conditions. Our transition to clean energy is carefully managed through the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which sets out how we will maintain energy security while delivering a decarbonised grid/power system.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are (1) the original target, and (2) current forecast, for the uptake of metering and monitoring service packages under the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme; how many packages have been allocated in each year since introduction; and what evaluation has been undertaken of their effectiveness in identifying underperformance or non-compliance.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The Metering and Monitoring Service Package (MMSP) was designed to support participants and installers on the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive to understand how heating systems are working in specific households and not to serve as a compliance tool. This was an optional measure for participants and was demand driven with 11,255 packages available in total. Ofgem's published data indicates that 3,530 applications were approved as of September 2023, with information for the preceding years attached.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many full-time equivalent roles are being recruited at Great British Energy.

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

Great British Energy (GBE) is currently developing its operating model and the capabilities it will need. Ultimately this will be a matter for GBE to determine, within their agreed budget.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many site audits were conducted under the (1) Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, and (2) Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, schemes in each year since 2014; and of these, how many took place in each nation and region of Great Britain, disaggregated for England, Scotland and Wales, and by Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS1 or NUTS2) regions or the most detailed regional classification used by Ofgem for audit reporting.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The Domestic and Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive schemes are administered by Ofgem on behalf of the government. Given the nature of the data requested, Ofgem will write to the noble Lord and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether Ofgem’s compliance audits for the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive and the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive are selected through a randomised, stratified, risk-weighted or quota-based sampling methodology; and what statistical confidence level is used when extrapolating fraud and error rates to the wider scheme.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The Domestic and Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive schemes each benefit from two audit programmes annually. They include both randomised and risk weighted methodologies with the ability to consider internal or external referrals. A 95% confidence level is currently applied when extrapolating fraud and error rates for the non-domestic scheme and 90% is applied for the domestic scheme.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive and (2) Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme participants have been subject to repeat compliance investigations or site audits since 2014; and what is the total cumulative value of overpayments identified for these cases.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The Domestic and Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive schemes are administered by Ofgem on behalf of the government. Given the nature of the data requested, Ofgem will write to the noble Lord and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has to include tidal lagoons in the 2030-50 clean energy mix.

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

The UK possesses tremendous tidal resource which could play a role in balancing the intermittency of wind and solar generation as we transition towards a carbon-neutral power sector.

The Government's position on tidal range generation, is that we remain open to considering well-developed proposals for harnessing the tidal range energy in the bays and estuaries around our coastlines, including lagoons and other alternatives.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much funding his Department has allocated to support Sizewell C nuclear plant in advance of the final investment decision for that plant.

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

The Sizewell C Development Expenditure Subsidy Scheme (DEVEX Scheme) has been made for £5.5bn for the Sizewell C company. Under this scheme to date, £3.9bn has been awarded to the company, in two tranches, one of £1.2bn and one of £2.7bn.

Prior to these awards, the Department had awarded £2.5bn to the project since the Government Investment Decision in November 2022 under the SZC Investment Funding Scheme.

Hence, in total, the Department has to date allocated £6.4bn to the project under both subsidy scheme.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of domestic boilers that are ready for using blended gas.

Answered by Baroness Curran

Industry have conducted trials and tests on whether or not domestic boilers can accept gas blended with hydrogen up to 20%. The Department is working with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure that this evidence is assessed independently and robustly.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan for a core hydrogen pipeline network to operate in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Curran

We are committed to conducting analysis to assess the potential scale, pace and geography of developing a core network. In the early years of the hydrogen economy, it is likely that most industrial demand for hydrogen will be located within industrial clusters where sites can share infrastructure and access available supply. We are therefore prioritising the development of regional network infrastructure while we continue to review the case for a core network to connect regional networks in the future.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48500 tabled on British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, what the Government’s timetable is for considering proposals put forward by British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Trustees.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

I met the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Trustees in April and am due to meet them again shortly. Officials have recently received the analysis we jointly commissioned from the Government Actuary’s Department and will now use that to inform our consideration of the Trustees’ proposals.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48449 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of investing in municipal green investment (a) bonds and (b) loans being offered by local authorities on customers.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises the significant progress made through the use of local municipal green bonds. So far fourteen councils have launched these bonds, mobilising over £11.5 million and giving thousands of investors the opportunity to invest in improvements to their local communities.

We acknowledge that local authorities are free to determine their own investment strategies. In doing so they must, however, have regard to statutory guidance that sets out best practice to ensure decisions are prudent, affordable and sustainable, and comply with their Best Value Duty. Investments should represent value for money and not place tax payers’ money at excessive risk.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he is having with retailers on fuel prices for drivers, the context of progress on (a) implementing Fuel Finder and (b) the Competition and Markets Authority's monitoring of that market.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government aims to implement Fuel Finder by the end of 2025, subject to passage of the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which will provide the legislative basis to set up the scheme. Fuel Finder will increase price transparency and drive down prices by encouraging greater retailer competition.

Following an in-depth procurement process, we have appointed VE3 Global as the aggregator of Fuel Finder. Appointing the aggregator is an important milestone to launching by the end of 2025, and we will work closely with VE3 as it engages with retailers throughout Fuel Finder’s development.

The CMA continues to monitor and scrutinise fuel prices using the statutory information gathering powers it received on 1 January 2025 through the Digital Markets, Competition & Consumer Act 2024.

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 press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of remaining properties not at energy performance certificate level C that will not be able to be upgraded to that level owing to the nature of the property.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As outlined in the consultation-stage Options Assessment (DESNZ001(OA)-25-NZBI), there are 5.1 million privately rented properties in England and Wales, with 55% below the current EPC C. Under the preferred option, 2.8 million properties could reach the proposed new EPC C standard by 2030. Some properties may remain below standard as the consultation proposed a range of exemptions for those unable to reach EPC C. Government is currently analysing responses to decide on a final policy outcome and will publish a government response and further impact assessment in due course.

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 press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of upgrading the 52% of rented homes in England that are not already at Energy Performance Certificate C level.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The recently closed consultation proposed new minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented homes and was accompanied by an options assessment. We have engaged widely with stakeholders during the consultation process and will use this feedback to inform the Government’s response to the consultation, which will be published in due course with a further impact assessment.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has he made of the potential financial impact of net zero policies on people in poverty.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The net zero transition will not only be the economic opportunity of the century, but it will also support the creation of hundreds of thousands of good jobs across the UK, protect our economy from future price shocks that reliance on fossil fuels create, while delivering a range of social and health benefits. The Warm Homes Plan, for example, will transform homes across the country, from installing new insulation to rolling out solar and heat pumps, helping households make their homes cleaner and cheaper to run.

As the OBR has noted [July 2021 Fiscal Risks Report], the costs of failing to get climate change under control would be much larger than those of bringing emissions down to net zero.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how nuclear energy can support the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Nuclear can support the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries by providing a source of reliable, low carbon energy. Nuclear will play an important role in helping the UK achieve a secure, resilient Clean Power system, in turn enabling large industrial consumers of electricity to decarbonise their operations. There are further opportunities for nuclear to support industrial decarbonisation by supplying electricity and/or heat directly to industrial sites. Government recognises the potential for nuclear to play a wider role in the UK energy system, including the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, and is exploring ways to unlock this opportunity.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how (a) Small Modular Reactors and (b) Advanced Modular Reactors can support energy-intensive industries.

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

Small and Advanced Modular Reactors (SMRs and AMRs) can support energy-intensive industries by providing scalable, low-carbon energy with the ability to co-locate at industrial sites. These reactors are well-suited for hard-to-decarbonise sectors and emerging demands such as AI data centres, which require reliable, continuous electricity and options for co-generation. The Government recognises the potential of advanced nuclear to power such facilities and is exploring ways to unlock this opportunity.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of new nuclear development on local communities.

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

Public consultation and community engagement is an essential part of the planning process.

We are in the process of designating a new National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation, called EN-7, which we consulted on earlier this year. EN-7 makes clear that as part of the planning process the applicant must assess the socioeconomic the impact of the construction, operation and decommissioning of the proposed nuclear infrastructure. This assessment should demonstrate that the applicant has taken account of, amongst other things, potential pressures on local and regional resources, population density and economic benefits.

New nuclear projects provide considerable benefits to the communities that host them. For example, EDF report that £5.3 billion has already been invested into the South West regional economy because of Hinkley Point C development.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44820 on Electricity Generation, what progress the industry working group has made on evaluating the P441 modification to the Balancing and Settlement Code.

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

Ofgem next convenes a working group on 11 June where Elexon will present cost and benefit analysis of the proposed solution. Subsequent timelines depend on whether any Alternative Modifications (solutions) are raised by industry, before a Final Modification Report (FMR) is submitted for Ofgem’s consideration and decision. Ofgem expects to receive the FMR by end of Q3 2025.

The Department is continuing to examine how to remove barriers for community and local energy project’s route to market. This includes working with Ofgem, GBE and relevant stakeholders to find solutions that work in the best interests of local generators and consumers.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the viability of tidal range power projects in the Severn Estuary.

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

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has launched a research innovation project to model the impacts and value of tidal range, we are expecting the report from this work soon and will consider its findings alongside the recently published Severn Estuary Commission report.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy parks on communities.

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

Energy National Policy Statements state that impacts of Nationally Significant (energy) Infrastructure Projects on local communities should be kept to a minimum, and at a level that is acceptable. Developers are required to undertake an assessment of likely significant environmental impacts and to describe how the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, reduce, mitigate, compensate) has been applied to address possible impacts, including cumulative, on the wider environment. In addition, through the Clean Power Action Plan, we have made clear that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, we will ensure they benefit from it. On 21^st May we published our working paper setting out proposals for mandatory community benefits for low carbon infrastructure and seeking views on shared ownership.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of placing cables for national energy infrastructure associated with energy parks underground.

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

The Government’s overarching position on undergrounding is set out in the National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks Infrastructure (NPS EN-5). It states that overhead lines should be the strong starting presumption except in nationally designated landscapes where undergrounding is the starting presumption.

Developers are responsible for designing electricity network infrastructure, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, planning policy and regulatory requirements, and assessing the merits of undergrounding cables on a project-by-project basis.

The Government does not make assessments for specific projects unless they come to the Secretary of State for a final planning decision.

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 ensure that new green businesses receive required utility connections in a timely manner.

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

The Government recognises the need for timely connections to the electricity network. The Government has worked at pace with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and the energy regulator, Ofgem, to develop a new connections process where strategically important demand projects will receive the strongest possible non-financial government support to facilitate timely connections. Stalled projects will be removed from the queue to prioritise projects which are vital for economic growth and the acceleration of transmission infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he is taking steps with the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure green energy projects have access to CO2 storage.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The recent final investment decisions with the East Coast Cluster and Liverpool Bay CCS are the first steps in unlocking necessary CO2 storage requirements needed to deliver our carbon budgets.

The Department continues to work with key regulatory and industry partners so that the capacity needed to store CO2 is accessible to green energy projects, such as cement decarbonisation or sustainable aviation fuels.

The Government also recognises that non-pipeline methods of CO2 transportation (for example, road, rail, barge and ship) will be required where it is not feasible to connect to a store via pipeline.

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 ensure the resilience of the electricity grid, in the context of fluctuating levels of power within the grid.

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

Great Britain has a highly resilient energy network with diverse sources of supply and maintaining the security of electricity supply is a key priority for Government.

We are working with the energy industry, regulators and other stakeholders to continually improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure. We work to reduce the vulnerability of networks and assets, taking into account a range of threats and future system changes.

The National Energy System Operator has well-established tools to balance the system in a wide range of scenarios, including in the event of voltage and frequency fluctuations.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate he has made of the potential impact of making the power grid net zero by 2030 on energy bills.

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

Our clean power target means transitioning to an electricity system that produces at least 95% of Great Britain’s generation from clean sources.

NESO's analysis confirmed delivering clean power by 2030 is deliverable, more secure, and could see a lower cost of electricity, and lower bills. The Department accepts NESO's modelling that clean power by 2030 can be delivered without increasing costs to consumers, with scope for lower bills.

Over this Parliament the government will be working relentlessly to translate the much cheaper wholesale costs of clean power into lower bills for consumers.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of (a) promoting and (b) mandating the installation of solar panels on new large industrial developments.

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

Accelerating the deployment of solar on commercial rooftops is at the heart of our clean energy mission.

The Government promotes commercial solar by various means, including permitted development rights and fiscal incentives.

Future Buildings Standards will be introduced later this year to ensure that all newly built commercial buildings are fit for a net zero future. We expect these standards to encourage the installation of solar panels.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of hydrogen in the energy network to improve energy security.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The government believes that the only way to guarantee our energy security is to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and towards homegrown clean energy.

Low carbon hydrogen will be a crucial enabler of a low carbon and renewables-based energy system and will help to deliver new clean energy industries which can support good jobs in our industrial heartlands and coastal communities.

Low carbon hydrogen will play a key role in delivering a decarbonised power system and can also provide very long duration energy storage, making use of curtailed electricity, which will support both a decarbonised electricity grid and increased energy security.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what technical assessment they have made of the potential level of hydrogen blending with natural gas in the National Transmission System.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The GB transmission system operator (National Gas) has conducted trials on the safety of hydrogen blends of up to 2%, 5% and 20% by volume in the National Transmission System. The Department is working with the Health and Safety Executive to ensure that this evidence is assessed as efficiently as possible.

We intend to publish a consultation on blending hydrogen into the GB gas transmission network in the near future.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Wales in the last month on public safety of coal tips.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The Mining Remediation Authority is in regular contact with the Welsh Government to discuss the management of Welsh coal tips.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring coal tip safety and just how much this issue resonates with local communities, particularly in the South Wales valleys, that is why the Government announced funding of £25m in 25/26 to the Welsh Government in the Budget, for making coal tips safe.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the Warm Homes Discount to households in receipt of means-tested benefits on people receiving those benefits.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We have recently consulted on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would end the use of the property high cost to heat threshold, making all energy billpayers who are on a qualifying means tested benefit eligible for the Discount. This would bring around 2.7 million households on a qualifying means-tested benefit into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The consultation closed on 24 March, DESNZ has considered the responses and a Government response will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of installing solar panels in the unused space between train tracks.

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

Installing solar between train tracks could be a feasible solution, particularly in urban areas where the track is electrified, as there will likely already be an adequately sized grid connection. However, there are some obstacles that may inhibit the deployment of this technology, such as the challenge of grid connections in rural areas, obstruction of track maintenance, and the cost of additional transformers required to convert electricity from solar to useable high voltage DC or AC electricity for trains. Decisions on specific locations of solar deployment ultimately rest with developers.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on placing cables underground for national energy infrastructure associated with energy parks in areas (a) of high outstanding natural beauty and (b) designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

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

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

The Government’s policy on undergrounding is set out in the energy National Policy Statement for electricity networks (EN-5), which sets a strong starting presumption of overhead lines, except in nationally designated landscapes - such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Special Scientific Interest - where undergrounding is the starting presumption.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consult on the issue of hydrogen transmission blending in 2025.

Answered by Baroness Curran

In December 2024 we set out an intention to consult on transmission-level blending within GB in early 2025 to gather evidence to inform the case for Transmission-level blending. We confirm that we intend to publish a consultation on blending hydrogen into the National Transmission System in the near future.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that destruction of the world's forests reached the highest level ever recorded in 2024, primarily due to a surge in fires.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The UK is deeply concerned by the record-breaking levels of forest loss, linked to climate-driven wildfires, identified in the recent World Resources Institute report (WRI-latest-analysis-deforestation-trends, 21/05/25).

The UK remains steadfast behind the shared commitment to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. We are working with partners to strengthen ambition and accelerate delivery of efforts to protect, restore, and sustainably manage critical ecosystems, including by supporting global action on wildfires through the G7. As co-chair of the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP), we are pushing for greater political focus on tackling deforestation as we approach COP30.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of hydrogen power stations to complement renewable energy.

Answered by Baroness Curran

Hydrogen to power can play a key role in a Clean Power system by providing low carbon dispatchable generation during lower renewable output periods. Hydrogen to power can deploy at a range of scales, providing a decarbonisation pathway for unabated gas generation, and when connected to large-scale hydrogen storage, can enable inter-seasonal low carbon electricity storage.

The government has committed to implement a hydrogen to power business model to support hydrogen to power deployment. The December 2024 hydrogen to power consultation response outlines the next steps government will take to deliver the business model.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial benefits to businesses of a core hydrogen network, instead of a small cluster network that requires business to provide local infrastructure.

Answered by Baroness Curran

We continue to assess the benefits that a core network could deliver to the hydrogen economy.

In the early years of the hydrogen economy, it is likely that most industrial demand for hydrogen will be located within industrial clusters where sites can share infrastructure. We are therefore prioritising the development of regional network infrastructure while we continue to review the case for a core network to connect regional networks in the future.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had any discussions with the government of Ireland about the gas interconnector from the UK that supplies blended gas.

Answered by Baroness Curran

None of the UK’s gas interconnectors currently supply or receive gas blended with hydrogen. The Department is engaging with officials from the Irish government and transmission system operator of Ireland to understand the implications of the EU hydrogen and gas decarbonisation package regarding hydrogen blending and to ensure continued cross-border trade of gas.

We intend to publish a consultation on blending hydrogen into the GB gas transmission network in the near future.

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 ensure that people in rural areas retain access to functioning energy meters following the Radio Teleswitch Service switch-off.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Customers will not unexpectedly lose access to their heating and hot water after 30th June, and we will not allow widespread disconnection.

Suppliers must fulfil all of their legal obligations to their customers, and that any future, localised phase-out of RTS meters after 30th Junemust be controlled, planned, and communicated properly to all customers in order to proceed.

The government will do everything it can to ensure that all customers are protected, and will work with Ofgem to hold suppliers to account if required. We expect energy suppliers to be taking measures, such as deploying roaming teams of installers including in rural areas, to ensure consumers receive replacement meters in a timely manner.

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 potential impact of making the power grid net zero by 2030 on jobs.

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

The Government’s initial assessment of the challenges of building the skilled workforce to deliver the Clean Energy Superpower Mission has been outlined in the Clean Power Action Plan. The Plan includes an Evidence Annex which provides a basis for government to better understand the 2030 workforce requirements and support targeted skills planning. DESNZ will publish our Clean Energy Workforce Strategy this summer. It will set out how we intend to grow and support the talent pipeline for Clean Power 2030 and net zero by 2050.

The wider transition to net zero is expected to support hundreds of thousands of jobs, with Clean Power 2030 playing a key part in stimulating a wealth of new jobs and economic opportunities across the country.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has considered sourcing energy from the Falkland Islands.

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

I have made no such consideration. The UK sources the oil and gas we use from domestic onshore and offshore fields and on the international market. The UK also trades electricity with several nearby countries, as well as the Isle of Man. This is all done by the commercial sector, not by the Government.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 14 May (HL Deb cols 2301), what assessment they have made of the results of the Green Homes Finance Accelerator programme, and what plans they have to take forward and scale up any of its initiatives.

Answered by Baroness Curran

The Green Home Finance Accelerator programme, supports the development of innovative green finance products and services that help homeowners cover the upfront cost of decarbonising their homes.

Following a competitive process, 26 projects were awarded funding to research and develop their product over a six-month Discovery Phase. 13 projects were successful in securing a share of approximately £16 million to pilot their products with homeowners across the UK until June 2025. The results of the pilot phase for each project will be published later in the year and the Government will use the findings of these to inform future policy development.

Found: You are looking at energy costs, which is going to sit with DESNZ.

Found: Organisation EAC Extracts Q175 Barry Gardiner: Ms Willis, you said that you work very closely with DESNZ

Found: off-course due to inadequate carbon pricing, and that Jet Zero price assumptions are contradicted by DESNZ

Found: . • The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is responsible for the expansion of offshore

Found: Written evidence submitted by the Department or Energy Security and Net Zero (BSE0132) DESNZ welcomes

Found: The DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker shows that 80% of people are very or fairly concerned about climate

Found: public corporation, owned by government through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ

Found: communications, marketing and public engagement, The Behavioural Insights Team (September 2024) 5 DESNZ

Found: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c8e96e19f5622360f3c0f0/electricity- networks-commissioner-letter-to-desnz-secretary.pdf

Found: fuel-your-imagination/department-energy-security-and-net-zeros-fuzzy- campaign-encourages-heat-pump-adoption 2 DESNZ

Found: not engage with it.3 1 https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/2022-progress-report-to-parliament/ 2 DESNZ

Found: Previous research from DESNZ further confirms that all age groups, including young people, believe that

Found: For myself, I believe that the information given to us by National Grid, DESNZ, Ed Miliband and others

Found: We welcome the launch of the ‘Warm and Fuzzy’ campaign by DESNZ to promote heat pumps as a step in the

Found: We also have experience working closely with policy officials – from DESNZ to the House of Lords to

Found: Attitudes towards renewable energy (based on all people), Spring 2022, Spring 2023 and Spring 2024, DESNZ

Found: financial accounts that the costs of windfarms remain very high.1 While aware of this evidence, DESNZ

Found: Michael Shanks MP Department for Energy Security & Net Zero 55 Whitehall London SW1A 2HP

Found: Michael Shanks MP Department for Energy Security & Net Zero 55 Whitehall London SW1A 2HP

Found: Letter from DESNZ SoS to Baroness Sheehan on OCEJ, Energy Skills Passport, Heathrow 19.05.2025 Correspondence

Found: means that – despite the high level of concern about climate change among the UK population (The DESNZ

Found: I think the Government should be more open and not riding roughshod over everyone and DESNZ should not

Found: https://www.uk100.org/publications/local-net-zero-20-moment-deliver 2 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/desnz-monthly-newsletter-energygovuk-i1j6e

Found: Are you working with DESNZ to assess the various forms of support for pensioners in terms of energy

Found: Sellafield 13 Managing the condition of ageing assets 16 3 Oversight of the NDA and Sellafield 19 DESNZ

Found: Government should pilot 2–3 challenge-led procurement demonstrators in departments such as MoD, DHSC, and DESNZ

Found: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ

Found: National Risk Register 2025 edition, National Risk Register - 2025 edition, p.60. 8 Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Found: .: 020 7219 1318 E-mail: CommonsESNZ@parliament.uk Sarah Jones MP Minister for Industry, DESNZ

Found: hydrogen gigafactory to accelerate the transition to a decarbonised transport economy 3 Kellas welcomes DESNZ

Found: We have been working with DESNZ on legislation around diesel generators and anaerobic digestion—what

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to use nuclear energy to support the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government recognises the significant energy demands of advanced AI infrastructure and is exploring how this can be met through renewable power sources, including nuclear.

In February this year, the Prime Minister announced significant reforms to accelerate the development of nuclear power infrastructure, including the Nuclear Regulatory Reform Taskforce which will oversee enhancements to the nuclear regulatory framework to facilitate the timely and efficient development of nuclear projects.

DSIT is working closely with DESNZ and NESO to align AI energy demand with future energy planning and long-term sustainability, including the potential role of nuclear in supporting these objectives.

The AI Energy Council, co-chaired by the Secretaries of State for DSIT and DESNZ, will explore clean energy solutions for AI infrastructure, including small modular reactors and next-gen renewables, to ensure our AI ambitions align with the UK’s net zero goals.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans for an extensive mapping exercise identifying the most suitable sites for renewable energy sources to be carried out as part of the Land Use Framework.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In October 2024, the Secretary of State for The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), along with Scottish and Welsh governments, jointly commissioned the National Energy System Operator to develop a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan: the first ever spatial energy plan for Great Britain, to support a more actively planned approach to energy infrastructure across both land and sea.

The analysis underpinning the Land Use Consultation for England has fed into the development of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan’s methodology. DESNZ and Defra will continue to work closely to ensure that the SSEP and the Land Use Framework work together cohesively alongside other sector plans.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cumulative impact on rural and coastal communities of major infrastructure projects, such as offshore wind farms, battery storage plants, and solar farms; and what steps they are taking to alleviate any negative impact on communities.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Major infrastructure projects that go through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) process are thoroughly considered and scrutinised on a case-by-case basis before any decision is taken on whether planning consent should or should not be granted. As part of this process, applicants are required to carry out environmental impact assessments to assess the impacts of any proposed development on the environment, and identify measures needed to mitigate negative environmental impacts. This includes consideration of cumulative impacts resulting from other projects and plans, where relevant.

Statutory consultees play a crucial role by providing assessment and feedback on applications to ensure a balance between a distinct number of needs, including environmental protections. The Examining Authority has a legal duty to test whether key environmental issues are being addressed during the examination phase. Further to this, the government has committed to introducing Biodiversity Net Gain for NSIPs, which will require these developments to have a positive impact on nature.

Through the Clean Power Action Plan, the government has made clear that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, they will benefit from it. On 21 May, DESNZ published a consultation on proposals for mandatory community benefits for low carbon infrastructure and seeking views on shared ownership – this closes on 16 July 2025.

Found: 0.0740740740740741 31 7 0.225806451612903 2 0.0645161290322581 4 0 0 0 0 Dept. for Energy Security and Net Zero7 DESNZ

Found: 0.225806451612903 2 0.0645161290322581 4 0 0.0 0 0.0 Dept. for Energy Security and Net Zero [note 7] DESNZ

Found: In the coming months, DESNZ will be publishing a Clean Energy Workforce Strategy.

Found: SIC) categories 14 CSN Industry Outlook - 2024-2028, CITB (2024) 15 Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, DESNZ

Found: British Business Bank (2023) Year 2: Future Fund Early Assessment Report - An Update, page 54. 129 DESNZ

Found: National Infrastructure, see NPSA DEFRA Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs DESNZ

Found: Education: Ministers' Hospitality - April 2025 CSV, 981 Bytes View online Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Found: This guidance has been developed with input from other Government Departments, in particular DESNZ and

Found: (SAU) has published its report proving advice to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ

Found: The Referral 1.1 On 24 April 2025, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) requested

Found: SIC) categories 14 CSN Industry Outlook - 2024-2028, CITB (2024) 15 Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, DESNZ

Found: In the coming months, DESNZ will be publishing a Clean Energy Workforce Strategy.

Found: through the Energy Act 2004, sponsored and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ

Found: Corporate Plan 2025/26 22 timely advice and support to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ

Found: We will provide timely advice and support to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ

Found: ● Home Office (HO) ● Ministry of Justice (MoJ) ● Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ

Found: internal conference ● Inclusive Employers subscription renewal ● Carers UK subscription DESNZ

Found: Skills In August 2023, MOD and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) established

Found: "DESNZ and Scottish Ministers have agreed that the expectation is that the Scottish Government will lead

Found: As a result of an investigation by TrustMark and further investigations by the DESNZ, 39 businesses

Found: such as bricks, cement, wood and tiles and emissions from operation of machinery and vehicles: • DESNZ

Found: Enterprise (“SOSE”) • Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland (“RSPB”) • UK Government (DESNZ

Found: connecting offshore wind developments to the grid, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ

Found: Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR); 59 • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ