Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they propose to take in response to the Hydrogen Champion Report: Recommendations to government and industry to accelerate the development of the UK hydrogen economy, published in March; and in particular, the recommendation that blending of hydrogen with gas of up to 20 per cent for the gas supply should proceed.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government welcomes the Hydrogen Champion Report, and I met the Hydrogen Champion, Ms Toogood, on 21 March to discuss next steps. The Government will continue to work with Ms Toogood and industry to develop the UK Hydrogen economy and realise the potential of hydrogen. The Government is planning to take a strategic policy decision in 2023 on whether to seek to enable blending of hydrogen in the existing gas distribution network. Further details will be provided this year, including through the government response to our consultation on hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure, which we aim to publish in Q2 2023.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are their reasons for not entering into a contract with Rolls-Royce on small modular reactors.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has awarded up to £210m from the Advanced Nuclear Fund to Rolls Royce SMR Ltd to support the development of their Small Modular Reactor design.
The Government intends to initiate a selection process in 2023, with the intention that we will enter negotiations with the most credible projects to enable a potential Government award of support as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what urgent steps they are taking to reduce the multi-year delays facing technology companies, particularly those working on fuel cells, trying to get connected to the electricity grid.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is working with Ofgem, network companies and others to improve connection processes, embed best practice and release network capacity. This will help ensure timely connections to the network, including for technology companies. In addition, Ofgem's price control funds investment in the network for new connections. As part of the 2023-28 electricity distribution network price control, Ofgem will allow £3.1bn for network upgrades. These actions should translate into accelerated connection timescales for projects across the country.