Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the scale-up of technologies needed to achieve 23 million tonnes of engineered carbon removals per year by 2035.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) will be important to Net Zero - balancing residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors whilst providing economic opportunities. In August Government published details of the GGR Business Model and published the Carbon Capture and Storage HyNet Track-1 expansion Project Negotiation List, which includes two GGR projects. To support demand, Government published a response to the consultation on the integration of GGRs into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and consulted on options to ensure integrity of the Voluntary Carbon and Nature Market. To ensure removals are measurable and verifiable, in July the British Standards Institution, commissioned by Government, published interim methodologies for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage and Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage. The Government has also invested £100 million in research and innovation for GGRs, including the GGRs Innovation Programme.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the progress made towards delivering 5 million tonnes of engineered carbon removals by 2030.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We remain committed to developing and deploying Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) at scale in the UK, recognising the important role they play in achieving net zero. The Government will deliver an updated plan that sets out the policy package out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all sectors of the economy, including GGRs, by October 2025. The Government will also set Carbon Budget 7 by June 2026, in line with our statutory duties.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps his Department has taken to support the development of carbon removal technologies ahead of the Autumn Budget.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) will be important to Net Zero - balancing residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors whilst providing economic opportunities. In August Government published details of the GGR Business Model and published the Carbon Capture and Storage HyNet Track-1 expansion Project Negotiation List, which includes two GGR projects. To support demand, Government published a response to the consultation on the integration of GGRs into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and have consulted on options to ensure integrity of the Voluntary Carbon and Nature Market. To ensure removals are measurable and verifiable, the British Standards Institution, commissioned by Government, published in July interim methodologies for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage and Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage. The Government has also invested £100 million in research and innovation for GGRs, including the GGRs Innovation Programme.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing the level of carbon removal on the UK's ability to meet it's net zero targets by (a) 2030 and (b) 2050.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will deliver an updated plan that sets out the policy package out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all sectors of the economy, including Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs), by October 2025. The Government will also set Carbon Budget 7 by June 2026, in line with our statutory duties. Under the Climate Change Act, the UK has a legally binding commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. GGR technologies will be important for reaching net zero – balancing residual emissions from hard-to-decarbonise sectors while providing new economic opportunities.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is available for hotels in West Dorset constituency to transition to more energy-efficient (a) heating and (b) cooling systems.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is working with local government, businesses, and the private sector to develop options to ensure our commercial buildings are thermally efficient, clean and affordable to run with a clear, practical path to meet Net Zero. We are supporting a pilot for hospitality businesses with Zero Carbon Services to help hospitality SMEs reduce carbon and energy bills. And the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers businesses grants of £7500 towards the cost of purchasing and installing heat pumps, and £5000 towards a biomass boiler, to replace their existing fossil fuel systems.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with Ofgem on reducing the level of disruption caused by gas mains maintenance in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The condition and maintenance of gas mains is typically managed by local Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs), under the regulatory supervision of Ofgem. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also play a key role in ensuring safety during mains replacement activities.
While oversight of gas mains infrastructure ultimately lies with the GDNs and HSE, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State holds regular discussions with Ofgem, HSE and the wider sector on a range of energy infrastructure issues to ensure that gas networks continue to operate safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to consumers, including those in West Dorset.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with Ofgem on the condition of gas mains infrastructure in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The condition and maintenance of gas mains is typically managed by local Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs), under the regulatory supervision of Ofgem. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also play a key role in ensuring safety during mains replacement activities.
While oversight of gas mains infrastructure ultimately lies with the GDNs and HSE, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State holds regular discussions with Ofgem, HSE and the wider sector on a range of energy infrastructure issues to ensure that gas networks continue to operate safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to consumers, including those in West Dorset.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many businesses had energy efficiency measures installed in West Dorset constituency between 2010 and 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not hold any information or statistics about this area. While a range of Government schemes and incentives have supported energy efficiency improvements across the commercial sector, detailed data is not collected at a national or constituency level.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Ofgem on reducing the level of disruption caused by gas mains repairs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The condition and maintenance of gas mains is typically managed by local Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs), under the regulatory supervision of Ofgem. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also play a key role in ensuring safety during mains replacement activities.
While oversight of gas mains infrastructure ultimately lies with the GDNs and HSE, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State holds regular discussions with Ofgem, HSE and the wider sector on a range of energy infrastructure issues to ensure that gas networks continue to operate safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to consumers, including those in West Dorset.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
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 increase the number of businesses powered by green energy in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are delivering on our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan to increase the number of businesses powered by green energy. We have lifted the onshore wind ban, established Great British Energy, consented almost 2GW of solar, delivered a record renewables auction, and launched carbon capture and hydrogen industries. In addition, we are driving forward vital planning and networks reforms to speed up clean power deployment.
The Government also is helping businesses to improve their energy efficiency and reduce the amount of energy they use by providing funding to upgrade their old boiler. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers grants of £7500 towards the cost of purchasing and installing heat pumps, and £5000 towards a biomass boiler, for properties looking to replace their existing fossil fuel heating.