Asked by: Graham Stringer (Labour - Blackley and Middleton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's BEIS Electricity Generation Costs (2020) published on 24 August 2020, if he will publish the empirical, numerical evidence underlying its estimate of (a) stagnant capital and (b) operational cost for (i) Combined Cycle Gas Turbines and (ii) other conventional generation technologies in that report.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The evidence behind the (a) capital and (b) operational cost assumptions for (i) Combined Cycle Gas Turbines and (ii) other conventional generation technologies has been published in a report prepared by Leigh Fisher and Jacobs (2016)[1]. Minor updates to Combined Cycle Gas Turbine efficiency have been made since, as a result of a published benchmarking exercise by Wood (2018)[2], which affects operational costs.
[1] ‘Leigh Fisher and Jacobs’ (2016): Electricity Generation Cost Update’ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/leigh-fisher-and-jacobs-2016-electricity-generation-cost-update
[2] ‘Call for CCUS Innovation: literature review, benchmarking report and calculator’ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/call-for-ccus-innovation-literature-review-benchmarking-report-and-calculator
Asked by: Graham Stringer (Labour - Blackley and Middleton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of agricultural land in each Agricultural Land Classification (ACL) category 1 to 5 which has been granted planning consent for development as solar photovoltaic generation in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
We have not made any estimate of agricultural land in Agricultural Land Classification categories, which is in the planning system or has been granted consent for development as solar photovoltaic generation, and we do not hold this information.
Asked by: Graham Stringer (Labour - Blackley and Middleton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of agricultural land in each Agricultural Land Classification (ACL) category 1 to 5 which is in scoping or pre-application or is awaiting decision on an application for development as solar photovoltaic generation in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
We have not made any estimate of agricultural land in Agricultural Land Classification categories, which is in the planning system or has been granted consent for development as solar photovoltaic generation, and we do not hold this information.
Asked by: Graham Stringer (Labour - Blackley and Middleton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps to ensure (a) market transparency and (b) protection of consumer interest by requiring National Grid ESO to publish the assumed load factors used to rank bids in the new Optional Downward Flexibility Mechanism made necessary by the low demand resulting from the public health measures adopted to tackle covid-19.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Government believes that transparency is essential for a stable, secure energy market in which industry and consumers can participate with confidence.
The Optional Downward Flexibility Mechanism (ODFM) service has been established by National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) to be used in exceptional circumstances and under certain conditions. ODFM was critical during recent periods of exceptionally low demand as it created ‘space’ on the system, thereby allowing the ESO to balance the system without having to resort to implementing emergency disconnection of embedded generation. As lockdown restrictions relax and demand increases, there is likely to be less of a requirement to use this service.
Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator, has a statutory duty to protect the interests of GB’s energy consumers and is responsible for ensuring that the ESO procures services to balance electricity demand and supply (including ODFM) in an open, transparent, economic and efficient manner.
The ESO is committed to transparency and provides a comprehensive suite of data relating to its activities via their data portal [https://data.nationalgrideso.com/ancillary-services/optional-downward-flexibility-management-odfm-market-information?from=0#resources]; this includes extensive information about the ODFM service. The ESO is continuing to publish further information about activities undertaken as a result of the pandemic. We have asked them to publish further information in relation to load factors for ODFM as part of this.
Asked by: Graham Stringer (Labour - Blackley and Middleton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in each year between 2020 and 2050.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Committee on Climate Change has not provided the Department with an estimate of the costs in each year from 2020 to 2050 for delivering the UK’s net zero target.
Costs are inevitably uncertain between 2020 and 2049 but the CCC estimate that the costs of delivering the net zero target will be equivalent to 1-2% of GDP in 2050. We will publish further detail in the impact assessment for the sixth carbon budget and for all policies which we take forward to deliver the net zero target.
In addition, HM Treasury are carrying out a review into the costs of transitioning to a net zero economy, as recommended by the CCC. The review will consider how to pay for this and how to achieve the transition in a way that works for households, businesses and public finances, as well as how we can ensure this is compatible with plans for a thriving and competitive economy.
Asked by: Graham Stringer (Labour - Blackley and Middleton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether her Department has received from the Committee on Climate Change an estimate of the costs of achieving net zero carbon emissions in each year from 2020 to 2049.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Committee on Climate Change has not provided the Department with an estimate of the costs in each year from 2020 to 2049 for delivering the UK’s net zero target.
Costs are inevitably uncertain between 2020 and 2049 but the CCC estimate that the costs of delivering the net zero target will be equivalent to 1-2% of GDP in 2050. We will publish further detail in the impact assessment for the sixth carbon budget and for all policies which we take forward to deliver the net zero target.
In addition, HM Treasury are carrying out a review into the costs of transitioning to a net zero economy, as recommended by the CCC. The review will consider how to pay for this and how to achieve the transition in a way that works for households, businesses and public finances, as well as how we can ensure this is compatible with plans for a thriving and competitive economy.
Asked by: Graham Stringer (Labour - Blackley and Middleton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has calculated the social costs linked to pollutants emitted from biomass boilers supported by the Renewable Heat Incentive in (a) urban areas and (b) rural areas.
Answered by Claire Perry
In the February 2018 Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Impact Assessment, Government estimated the social costs and benefits from carbon savings and air quality impacts for biomass boilers supported under the RHI. The discounted lifetime value of carbon savings and air quality impacts from RHI biomass boilers is shown below. This demonstrates a positive impact, and therefore the social benefit of biomass on the scheme across GB.
Carbon savings (traded and non-traded) | +£2,860m |
Air quality benefits | +£550m |
Total | +£3,410m |
Asked by: Graham Stringer (Labour - Blackley and Middleton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has calculated the social costs linked to pollutants emitted from biomass boilers supported by the Renewable Heat Incentive since that scheme began in 2013.
Answered by Claire Perry
In the February 2018 Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Impact Assessment, Government estimated the social costs and benefits from carbon savings and air quality impacts for biomass boilers supported under the RHI. The discounted lifetime value of carbon savings and air quality impacts from RHI biomass boilers is shown below. This demonstrates a positive impact, and therefore the social benefit of biomass on the scheme across GB.
Carbon savings (traded and non-traded) | +£2,860m |
Air quality benefits | +£550m |
Total | +£3,410m |