Asked by: Lord Moynihan of Chelsea (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the (1) original, and (2) current, estimated cost is of the new 400kV double circuit Beauly-Blackhillock project.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government monitors the progress of transmission projects required to meet our goal of clean power through regular engagement with industry and regulators. Cost estimates are developed and maintained by the relevant Transmission Owners and are subject to regulatory scrutiny by Ofgem.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan of Chelsea (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the original estimated completion date was for the new 400kV double circuit Beauly-Blackhillock project; and what the current estimated completion date is.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government monitors the progress of transmission projects required to meet our goal of clean power through regular engagement with industry and regulators. Transmission Owners (TOs) are licensed and regulated by Ofgem. While TOs are responsible for delivering transmission projects, Ofgem plays a key role in scrutinising delivery plans, setting the regulatory requirements and monitoring performance (including completion dates), against agreed outputs and milestones. Ofgem holds TOs accountable for the efficient and timely delivery of network upgrades and can investigate potential non-compliance where delivery falls short of regulatory requirements.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan of Chelsea (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the original estimated completion date was for the Loch Buidhe-Spittal 400kV reinforcement project; and what the current estimated completion date is.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government monitors the progress of transmission projects required to meet our goal of clean power through regular engagement with industry and regulators. Transmission Owners (TOs) are licensed and regulated by Ofgem. While TOs are responsible for delivering transmission projects, Ofgem plays a key role in scrutinising delivery plans, setting the regulatory requirements and monitoring performance (including completion dates), against agreed outputs and milestones. Ofgem holds TOs accountable for the efficient and timely delivery of network upgrades and can investigate potential non-compliance where delivery falls short of regulatory requirements.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan of Chelsea (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the original estimated completion date was for the Beauly-Loch Buidhe 400kV reinforcement project; and what the current estimated completion date is.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government monitors the progress of transmission projects required to meet our goal of clean power through regular engagement with industry and regulators. Transmission Owners (TOs) are licensed and regulated by Ofgem. While TOs are responsible for delivering transmission projects, Ofgem plays a key role in scrutinising delivery plans, setting the regulatory requirements and monitoring performance (including completion dates), against agreed outputs and milestones. Ofgem holds TOs accountable for the efficient and timely delivery of network upgrades and can investigate potential non-compliance where delivery falls short of regulatory requirements.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan of Chelsea (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the (1) original, and (2) current, estimated cost is of the Loch Buidhe-Spittal 400kV reinforcement project.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government monitors the progress of transmission projects required to meet our goal of clean power through regular engagement with industry and regulators. Cost estimates are developed and maintained by the relevant Transmission Owners and are subject to regulatory scrutiny by Ofgem.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan of Chelsea (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the (1) original, and (2) current, estimated cost is of the Beauly-Loch Buidhe 400kV reinforcement project.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government monitors the progress of transmission projects required to meet our goal of clean power through regular engagement with industry and regulators. Cost estimates are developed and maintained by the relevant Transmission Owners and are subject to regulatory scrutiny by Ofgem.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan of Chelsea (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of global confidence in the UK energy market; and what steps, if any, they are taking to improve this.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, UK energy transition investment reached a record £65 billion in 2025, with investment in low-carbon sectors accounting for 2% of GDP - the second highest share in the G7. This reflects strong investor confidence in the UK’s clean energy transition and the significant opportunities it presents. The Government is reinforcing this momentum through the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan and the Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, which provide long-term policy certainty, alongside targeted public investment and reforms to planning, grid connections and Contracts for Difference that are helping to unlock further private investment in clean energy infrastructure.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan of Chelsea (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to seek a formal link between the UK and EU emissions trading schemes to exempt British manufacturers from the upcoming EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK and EU agreed to work towards linking their respective Emissions Trading Schemes (ETSs) at the May 2025 UK-EU Summit. Negotiations began late last year and are on-going. A significant benefit of a linking agreement would be the creation of the conditions needed for mutual exemptions from our respective CBAM regimes.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan of Chelsea (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to negotiate energy alignment with the EU while maintaining the UK’s autonomy to regulate state aid and set environmental targets.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We will negotiate an electricity agreement with the EU to cut the cost of trading electricity with European partners, strengthen our energy security, drive investment in the North Sea, and help to achieve our Clean Power 2030 Mission.
In line with the outcome of exploratory discussions, the UK and the EU will discuss the relevant rules relating to state aid and environmental protection. Any commitments in these areas remain subject to negotiation and will involve a balance of rights and obligations to ensure a level playing field in the trade of electricity between the Parties.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan of Chelsea (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what process they intend to follow to resolve cross-border disputes arising from the Hamburg Declaration regarding supply chain protectionism and the financing of shared grid infrastructure in the North Sea.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Hamburg Declaration of Energy Ministers, signed at the Third North Sea Summit on 26 January 2026, together with its annexes, including the Action Plan and the Offshore Financing Framework, is non-binding and does not create rights or obligations under national or international law. It therefore cannot give rise to justiciable disputes between the parties.