Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is taking steps to maintain energy security in the context of the availability of electricity supplies from (a) central and (b) western Europe.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK has a secure and diverse energy system. The market has successfully delivered sufficient electricity supplies amidst a recent period characterised by high energy prices and increased uncertainties caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Electricity System Operator’s (ESO) Summer Outlook expects sufficient supply to meet demand at all times this summer; net imports into Great Britain from mainland Europe; and to be able to support exports if needed.
We continue to work with Ofgem and ESO to monitor energy security and ensure ESO can deploy all tools at its disposal if needed to secure supply.
ESO Summer Outlook weblink: https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/316126/download
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made representations to HM Treasury on the inclusion of imported electricity in Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism taxation.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Electricity generation was not included within the initial sectoral scope of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), announced in December 2023. The approach aligns with free allowance allocations, under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which are not provided to electricity generators.
In making the decision, the government looked primarily at three factors: inclusion in the UK ETS, carbon leakage risk, and feasibility and effectiveness.
The sectoral scope of a UK CBAM will remain under review. The design and delivery of a CBAM is subject to consultation, closing on 13 June 2024.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of electricity is forecast to be imported via interconnector by (a) 2030 and (b) 2040.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
As set out in our net zero and power sector scenarios,[1] the UK could become a net electricity exporter in future. In 2030, net exports are 2.4% of gross generation supplied in the higher electricity demand scenario. The UK remains a net importer in the lower electricity demand scenario with net imports providing an additional 2.3% to gross generation supplied. In 2040, net exports are 8.2% of gross generation supplied in the higher electricity demand scenario and 6.6% in the lower demand scenario.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-and-emissions-projections-2021-to-2040
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will take steps to reform the capacity market to ensure that new gas power plants have parity with interconnectors.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The technology-neutral Capacity Market (CM) provides all forms of capacity, including new and existing gas generation and interconnectors, with the right incentives to be on the system to deliver when needed.
All capacity in the CM is derated by technology type, to account for expected contributions to electricity security of supply during times of system stress. Derating factors for all technology types are determined annually and are set out in the Electricity System Operator’s Electricity Capacity Report and Secretary of State’s decision on CM auction parameters each year and are published online.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when her Department last made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of imported electricity through interconnectors on energy security.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Government consider that interconnectors will play a key role in enabling greater security of supply by providing access to a more diverse electricity generation mix, responding to shocks in the GB system by importing electricity.
The Capacity Market (CM) is our main tool for ensuring security of electricity supply. CM auction targets are set based on advice from the Electricity System Operator’s Electricity Capacity Report which considers the contribution interconnectors make to security of supply.
With the exception of 2022, GB has historically been a net importer of electricity, though ESO forecasts suggest that GB will likely become a net exporter in future.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the use of electricity interconnectors on energy (a) security and (b) supply.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Government consider that interconnectors will play a key role in enabling greater security of supply by providing access to a more diverse electricity generation mix, responding to shocks in the GB system by importing electricity.
The Capacity Market (CM) is our main tool for ensuring security of electricity supply. CM auction targets are set based on advice from the Electricity System Operator’s Electricity Capacity Report which considers the contribution interconnectors make to security of supply.
With the exception of 2022, GB has historically been a net importer of electricity, though ESO forecasts suggest that GB will likely become a net exporter in future.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing the use of imported electricity on (a) industrial and (b) domestic energy prices.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Interconnectors are built to share energy with some of our closest European allies, who are also generating renewable, clean energy at affordable prices, enabling access to lower-cost electricity for GB consumers. Analysis supporting the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan [1] showed that increasing the level of interconnection could reduce system costs by over £1bn annually (based on 2012 prices).
New interconnectors are subject to an independent and robust regulatory process run by Ofgem, ensuring that only projects which bring benefits to GB consumers are built.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 level of carbon emissions produced by electricity (a) generated and (b) imported to Great Britain from the EU in (i) 2015, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2023.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
(a) Greenhouse gas emissions estimates from electricity generation in Great Britain in 2015 were 100.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). In 2020, emissions from electricity generation in Great Britain were 46.6 MtCO2e. This includes emissions from major power producers, but not emissions from companies generating their own electricity.
Estimates for 2023 for Great Britain will be published in 2025.
(b) The UK Government has not produced estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of electricity imported from the EU to Great Britain as these are not within the geographical scope that it is required to report on.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made the potential role of kinetic energy floor tiling in decarbonising the British energy supply.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Department has not made any assessment of the potential role of kinetic energy floor tiling in decarbonising the British energy supply as the power output achievable is very small compared to the total power requirements of the UK.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 proportion of (a) coal, (b) gas fired, (c) nuclear and (d) renewable generated electricity which is imported into Britain via interconnector each year.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The Department does not hold data estimating the proportion of imported electricity generated from each fuel type. Total electricity imports by country are published in Energy Trends table 5.6.