Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of solar panels installed on (a) supermarket car parks and (b) supermarket roofs to renewable energy generation targets.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government has not made an assessment of the potential impact of solar panels installed on supermarket car parks or supermarket roofs to renewable energy generation targets.
We do, however, recognise that deployment of solar capacity on car parks has several potential key benefits to help meet our targets by:
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what data her Department holds on the proportion of large retail premises, including supermarkets, that have installed solar panels on (a) roofs and (b) car parks.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD) tracks the progress of UK renewable electricity projects over 150kW through the planning system. It is possible to filter the database for rooftop solar PV installations, but we cannot identify which are for large retail premises, including supermarkets, and will not likely capture installations which fall below the 150kW threshold. It is therefore also not possible to identify which installations are on car parks.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the interaction between heritage protections and planning policy in delivering solar energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ and MHCLG work regularly together on planning policy. For Nationally Significant (NSIP) solar projects, the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Infrastructure, updated in January 2026, sets out the importance of solar and how heritage considerations should be accounted for. For solar projects under 100MW, the updated National Planning Policy Framework published in August 2026 gives greater prominence to, and strengthens the framework for, renewable generation infrastructure such as solar. The Government will continue to work together to update the Planning Practice Guidance including how specific considerations for solar farms such as heritage impacts, should be applied in practice.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate funding for the Great British Energy Community Fund to support all projects currently approved as of 3 April 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the role community groups play in our efforts to tackle climate change and our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.
In 2025/26 Community Energy Groups will be able to access a share of £5 million in grant funding through the Great British Energy Community Fund to help communities develop their own clean energy projects. This will continue the work of the Community Energy Fund, which enabled both rural and urban communities across England to access grant funding to develop local renewable energy projects for investment. Once GBE is fully operational it will develop its longer-term support offer for Community Energy Groups as well as for Local and Mayoral Strategic Authorities.
The community energy sector can access further funding support through Ofgem’s Just Transition Fund, which is open to applications from community groups.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support homeowners who received a government grant to get foam roof insulation which has caused damp issues.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Any measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified. Installations of any insulation under current Government schemes must be installed in accordance with the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards. In any instance where insulation is installed improperly under a government-backed scheme, consumers are entitled to remediation by their installer or, failing that, the insurance-backed guarantee.
If installed under a government scheme the TrustMark website contains further guidance on how consumers can complain if things go wrong and the dispute resolution process: https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowners/if-things-go-wrong.
Ministers will now press ahead with a sweeping overhaul of consumer protection through the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support homeowners to remove and replace faulty home insulation.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Installations of any insulation under current Government schemes must comply with the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards. In any instance where insulation is installed improperly under these schemes, consumers are entitled to remediation by their installer or, failing that, the guarantee provided.
The TrustMark website contains further guidance on how consumers can complain if things go wrong and the dispute resolution process: https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowners/if-things-go-wrong.
Through the Warm Homes Plan, the Government will further drive up the quality of installations and protect consumers.