Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on his proposed changes to energy performance certificates; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) this policy and (b) his other energy policies on the viability of the short-term rental sector in (i) rural and (ii) coastal communities.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
On the 4th December 2024, the Government published the consultation on Energy Performance Certificate Reform. Alongside the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, my Department is currently considering all the responses and the Government will publish a response in due course.
The Government is also consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector, including whether short-term lets should be included in the scope of our changes. We encourage stakeholders to feed in their views and evidence on the potential impact of these proposals. Following the consultation process, a government response and full impact assessment will be published.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
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 incentivise small businesses in the (a) computing and (b) AI sector to generate their own renewable energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to ensuring the growth of AI and data centres in the UK is done in a way that supports our clean power mission and longer-term decarbonisation goals. The department has funded the AI for Decarbonisation Programme which supports the development of innovative AI approaches to address critical challenges in decarbonisation. The department is also running a Business Energy Advice Service pilot in the West Midlands. This provides free energy assessments and match-funded grants to small businesses to support them to decarbonise and reduce their energy demand. The scheme has been extended to 31 March 2026.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what data his Department holds on the amount of energy transmitted by IFA2 since 1 September 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The National Energy System Operator publishes data on interconnector flows on its Data Portal. Historical data is available as part of the Historical Demand Data series, while more timely data is available in the Daily Demand Update.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will review the eligibility criteria for the Track-2 Carbon Capture and Storage process to ensure that those projects expected to secure a carbon storage licence within a timescale consistent with a 2030 start-up are included.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government has set eligibility criteria for Track-2 of its carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) programme that prioritise transport and storage (T&S) systems that can be operational by 2030 or earlier.
The Government believes that the possession of a Carbon Dioxide Appraisal and Storage licence is a key indicator for competitiveness in any Track-2 assessment. The expression of interest application window is now closed and we will provide an update in the summer.
We encourage T&S systems not eligible for Track-2 to continue their decarbonisation plans where feasible and we are open to engagement with them.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that (a) communities and businesses in the South of England and (b) national industries are able participate in (i) carbon capture storage and (ii) the production of hydrogen and sustainable aviation and marine fuels.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Carbon capture and storage (CCUS) and low carbon hydrogen, which can be used to create sustainable aviation and marine fuels, offer economic opportunities across the country. In 2030, CCUS and hydrogen could support up to 50,000 and 12,000 jobs, respectively. The Government announced an unprecedented £20bn investment in the early development of CCUS and is supporting hydrogen projects across the UK through the £240m Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, including three in the south of England, and the Hydrogen Production Business Model. Two projects in the south of England have progressed to the next stage of the first electrolytic hydrogen allocation round.