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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 19 Jan 2022
Small Modular Reactors and Energy Security

"It is a privilege to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Bone. In my intervention, I was supporting my hon. Friend’s contribution about the opportunities and benefits that small modular reactors will bring. Does she agree that the export potential is significant, and that an early intervention in the UK will …..."
Alun Cairns - View Speech

View all Alun Cairns (Con - Vale of Glamorgan) contributions to the debate on: Small Modular Reactors and Energy Security
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 03 Nov 2021
Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill

"Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for calling me to speak in this important debate. I declare an interest as the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for energy security.

The development of new nuclear power stations in the UK is long overdue. Right hon. and hon. Members have made excellent …..."
Alun Cairns - View Speech

View all Alun Cairns (Con - Vale of Glamorgan) contributions to the debate on: Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 21 Sep 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"6. What recent progress he has made on the Government’s proposals to support automotive battery manufacturers. ..."
Alun Cairns - View Speech

View all Alun Cairns (Con - Vale of Glamorgan) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 21 Sep 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"I congratulate the Minister on his appointment, and pay tribute to the Secretary of State and his team for facilitating investment in gigafactories in the UK. Britishvolt is making excellent progress in Blyth, but was originally intended to come to my constituency. These large-scale projects have both devolved and reserved …..."
Alun Cairns - View Speech

View all Alun Cairns (Con - Vale of Glamorgan) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 20 Sep 2021
UK Gas Market

"I declare an interest as chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on energy security. I pay tribute to the Secretary of State for the action he is taking to protect consumers and to calm the concerns that some commentators and some Members have expressed. Does he agree that diversity is …..."
Alun Cairns - View Speech

View all Alun Cairns (Con - Vale of Glamorgan) contributions to the debate on: UK Gas Market
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Mar 2021
Vauxhall at Ellesmere Port and Battery Manufacturing Strategy

"The Secretary of State will be familiar with my long-standing ambition to see a battery valley—or a battery vale—established in Wales, so I was delighted when Britishvolt prioritised St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, my constituency, as its preferred site for its gigafactory, although I was later disappointed when …..."
Alun Cairns - View Speech

View all Alun Cairns (Con - Vale of Glamorgan) contributions to the debate on: Vauxhall at Ellesmere Port and Battery Manufacturing Strategy
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 14 Dec 2020
Energy White Paper

"I congratulate my right hon. Friend and his ministerial team on today’s significant statement. I warmly welcome the commitment shown towards nuclear energy and the open mind that he shows towards the financing model. Does he recognise the challenges that the regulated asset base will give to assessing the risk …..."
Alun Cairns - View Speech

View all Alun Cairns (Con - Vale of Glamorgan) contributions to the debate on: Energy White Paper
Written Question
Renewable Energy: Government Assistance
Wednesday 11th November 2020

Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much Government support has been provided in subsidies to the (a) marine, (b) wind, (c) biomass and (d) solar energy sectors in each of the last 10 years.

Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng

Support for the generation of renewable electricity is paid under three schemes: The Renewables Obligation (RO), the Feed-in Tariffs (FIT), and Contracts for Difference (CfD) schemes.

The Renewables Obligation does not pay a direct subsidy but instead support is provided through tradeable certificates.

Support for renewable heat is provided through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which is funded through general taxation.

The table below gives a breakdown of support for electricity generation and renewable heat from marine, wind, biomass and solar technologies in Great Britain. The CfD, FITs & GB RHI schemes are not available in Northern Ireland.

Year

Scheme+

Support for electricity generation and renewable heat (in £m)

Marine

Offshore wind

Onshore wind

Biomass

Solar Thermal

Solar PV

2010/11

RO

0.01

258.0

360.1

248.1

-

0.03

CfD

-

-

-

-

-

-

RHI

-

-

-

-

-

-

2011/12

RO

0.02

371.3

450.9

255.2

-

0.1

CfD

-

-

-

-

-

-

RHI

-

-

-

1

-

-

2012/13

RO

0.03

696.3

494.7

385.4

-

0.8

CfD

-

-

-

-

-

-

RHI

-

-

-

15

-

2013/14

RO

0.2

1,022.6

731.5

484.3

-

36.3

CfD

-

-

-

-

-

-

RHI

-

-

-

49

-

2014/15

RO

0.2

1,107.7

704.9

737.5

-

134.9

CfD

-

-

-

-

-

-

RHI

-

-

-

138

1

-

2015/16

RO

-

1,496.8

805.5

932.0

-

304.0

CfD

-

-

-

-

-

-

RHI

-

-

-

239

2

-

2016/17

RO

0.1

1,533.7

892.8

953.6

-

416.4

CfD

-

-

-

91.8

-

0.4

RHI

-

-

-

289

2

-

2017/18

RO

1.8

2,008.6

1,256.2

864.7

-

471.1

CfD

-

295.8

-

247.3

-

0.8

RHI

-

-

-

368

3

-

2018/19

RO

2.6

2,220.5

1,334.9

1,079.9

-

548.5

CfD

-

587.6

11.3

380.2

-

0.8

RHI

-

-

-

394

3

-

2019/20

RO*

3.4

2,212.2

1,270.9

981.1

-

459.9

CfD

1,276.1

88.7

442.0

-

1.4

RHI

-

-

-

428

3

-

Notes

*The RO figures are based on Ofgem’s certificate report as of 4 August 2020 from their Renewables and CHP Register.

* The RO figures for 2019/20 are provisional as not all the certificates have been issued yet and the full notional value of each certificate is not yet known.

* The figures for FITs are not available as they cannot be broken down by technology.

*RHI payments are made to scheme participants using eligible renewable heating technologies. The RHI figures above relate to both the Domestic and Non-Domestic RHI schemes.

Written Question
Energy Supply
Monday 9th November 2020

Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the resilience of the National Grid as part of the UK's transition to net zero.

Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng

The UK has one of the most robust energy systems in the world. Maintaining a safe and secure energy supply is a key priority for this Government.

We work closely with the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), electricity operators, and Ofgem, to ensure our electricity and gas systems are able to respond to new challenges, including the transition to net zero, whilst continuing to ensure resilience.

In April 2019, the ESO published its plan to fully operate Great Britain’s electricity system with zero carbon by 2025 and is undertaking a number of projects to explore how this can be achieved.

The Government will continue to work with the ESO to ensure that this is delivered in a manner that ensures the stability and security of the electricity system.

Written Question
Energy: Meters
Monday 9th November 2020

Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of UK households have smart meters fitted.

Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng

Smart meters are replacing traditional gas and electricity meters in Great Britain as part of an essential infrastructure upgrade to make the energy system more efficient, flexible and ensure cost effective delivery of net zero.

Thirty-nine percent of meters in homes across Great Britain were smart meters as of 30 June 2020. The latest data on the rollout of smart meters is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/smart-meters-in-great-britain-quarterly-update-june-2020. The next quarterly publication covering the period from July to end of September 2020 is due for release on 26 November.