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 make an assessment of the effectiveness of green bonds issued by (a) Bruce Power and (b) Ontario Power Generation in Canada.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The UK’s Green Financing Programme (Green Gilt) is a key pillar of the UK government’s green finance agenda, raising money to fund projects with clearly defined climate or environmental benefits. There is significant demand from investors for these products, and it is expected that the ongoing Green Financing Programme will help catalyse further growth of the corporate green bond market. The Government would not normally assess or comment on specific corporate green bond issuances, but we are in the process of establishing a UK Green Taxonomy, which will provide a robust classification system for green economic activities.
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 the cost to the public purse was of the boiler upgrade scheme in the last 12 months for which data is available.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
In the 12 months up to the end of November 2023, over £68.3 million worth of Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants were paid (on a cash basis) towards the installation of eligible low carbon heating technologies.
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 increase the UK’s nuclear energy capacity.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Civil Nuclear Roadmap, published yesterday, reconfirmed the Government’s ambition to deploy up to 24GW of nuclear power by 2050. The Roadmap sets out key timelines for deployment and government decisions as well as wider enabling policies. The Roadmap announced the Government’s intention to explore a further GW-scale project after Sizewell C and its plans to make investment decisions concerning 3-7GW every five years between 2030 and 2044.
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 she has made a recent assessment of the efficacy of nuclear energy.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
There is no credible pathway to net zero nor energy security without nuclear power. Nuclear complements intermittent technologies like wind and solar and reduce the risks created by the uncertainties of energy storage technologies. The Government’s Civil Nuclear Roadmap, published yesterday, sets out the case for nuclear and presents the Government’s long-term civil nuclear strategy to help deliver our ambition for up to 24GW of nuclear power by 2050.
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 fund research into the use of biomethane in gas supply.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Increasing the proportion of biomethane in the gas grid is a practical and cost-effective way of reducing carbon emissions. It can be used flexibly across different end uses with the potential to help decarbonise heating, transport, power generation and agriculture.
The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) provides tariff support for biomethane produced and injected into the gas grid. The Department recently announced an extension to the scheme to 31 March 2028. The Government will consult on introducing a policy framework to follow this to facilitate continued growth of the market and is carrying out research and evaluation to support policy development.
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 make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology of the potential impact of AI-powered services on trends in the level of energy consumption.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is monitoring the published literature into the risk of increased energy consumption from AI-powered services. Despite its energy usage, AI can be used to enhance efficiency and reduce overall carbon emissions.
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 new Community Energy Fund on people living in Romford constituency.
Answered by Graham Stuart
It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
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 merits of reducing restrictions on the creation of new onshore wind farms.
Answered by Graham Stuart
In December 2022, the Government published a consultation on making changes to national planning policy for new onshore wind farms in England. After consideration of all responses, on 5 September the Government set out changes to make it easier for local authorities to allocate suitable areas for onshore wind developments and to provide greater flexibility in addressing associated planning impacts.
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 she has made a comparative assessment of (a) climate change and (b) long-overdue summer sun as potential causes of the heatwave in early September 2023.
Answered by Graham Stuart
A detailed assessment of the September heatwave has not yet been made. The heatwave occurred when a high-pressure system led to clear skies and warm air to be drawn north from continental Europe. Climate change has increased air and sea surface temperatures across the UK and Europe meaning that, while a specific attribution analysis has not yet been conducted for this heatwave, existing scientific evidence suggests that it is very likely temperatures were higher than they might otherwise have been under the same weather pattern in a world without human-induced climate change.
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 encourage domestic production of geothermal power.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Geothermal technologies that generate electricity are eligible for the Contracts for Difference scheme, which is the Government’s main mechanism for supporting low carbon electricity generation.
The Department is updating its evidence base for geothermal power and is considering additional steps to encourage domestic production.