Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 19 September 2023 to Question 199543 on Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, what (a) types of companies and (b) sectors are eligible for the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.
Answered by Graham Stuart
To receive support from the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), companies will need to evidence that they are carrying out an eligible industrial process at a site. Companies of any type or size may apply as long as they meet the Government's sector eligibility criteria. Eligible sectors for the IETF are as follows:
More information on IETF eligibility can be found here. The Government is currently reviewing sector eligibility rules for Phase 3 of the IETF, which will launch in early 2024.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what regions she plans to assess for suitability as locations for future large-scale nuclear reactor projects.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is developing a new nuclear National Policy Statement, which will cover the policy framework for deploying new nuclear power stations beyond 2025. As an initial step, the Government plans to consult on its proposed approach for determining how new nuclear developments could be sited in future in England and Wales. The intention is to publish this consultation before the end of 2023.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to reopen applications for the Contracts for Difference scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Contracts for Difference scheme now runs on an annual basis. The Government has confirmed that the sixth allocation round will open, as scheduled, in March 2024.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the differences are between the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund rules for (a) Northern Ireland and (b) England and Wales.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) runs in accordance with the relevant subsidy control scheme for each country. The same IETF rules apply to companies in all countries, with the exception of the aid thresholds for decarbonisation deployment projects. For companies in England and Wales, the maximum aid intensity that a company can claim is 50%, 60% and 70% for small, medium and large companies respectively. To comply with the General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER), applicable under the Northern Ireland Protocol, the maximum aid intensity that companies in Northern Ireland can claim is 40%, 50% and 60%, dependent on their size, plus a further 5% to reflect the region’s Tier 2 status under the EU subsidy control regime.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many eligible households that had applied for an Alternative Fuel Payment had not yet been paid on 13 September 2023.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The most up-to-date figures on households receiving the Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund can be found here:
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will hold discussions with Ofgem on the process for reviewing customer credit balances every six months and avoiding large build-ups of credit.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
DESNZ Ministers and officials regularly meet with Ofgem to discuss a range of issues relating to GB energy markets. The regulation of energy supply in Northern Ireland, including the avoidance of large credit balances on customer energy accounts is a devolved matter.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
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 estimate of the number of gas boilers that have been taken out of service since the launch of the heat pump subsidy scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) operates in England and Wales. Up until the end of July 2023, there had been 6,378 grants paid towards the installations of heat pumps that were replacing gas systems.
Source: Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics: July 2023
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
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 encourage households to install energy efficiency measures before winter 2023.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is investing £6.6 billion over this Parliament on clean heat and improving energy efficiency in buildings, reducing reliance on fossil fuel heating.
The recently announced Great British Insulation Scheme will upgrade around 300,000 of the country’s least energy efficient homes. Households could save £300-£400 each year as part of a £1 billion energy efficiency programme by March 2026.
Consumers can also access the Government’s home retrofit tool ‘Find ways to save energy in your home’ on GOV.UK’. Users can get tailored recommendations for home improvements that could make their property cheaper to heat and keep warm.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
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 number of Microgeneration Certification Scheme certified installers who have been found not to meet the required installation standards since the commencement of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
To be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme installers must be Microgeneration Certification Scheme certified and members of a Consumer Code to provide assurances and protections to consumers.
79 installer accounts are currently suspended by Ofgem, some of which are under investigation and may be reinstated later. Accounts can be suspended for a variety of reasons in relation to potential scheme non-compliance and not all are related to issues with standards.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to launch publicity campaigns on the take up of energy efficient insulation measures.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government’s consumer facing energy efficiency campaign It All Adds Up, targeted all UK adults with advice on energy saving measures. The Great British Insulation Scheme will also run until 2026 and support around 300,000 households to insulate their homes. Whilst the marketing and delivering of the scheme is industry led, the Government is looking to improve its energy advice and information service to make it easier for people to see if they are eligible for schemes like the Great British Insulation Scheme. The Government will support industries' promotion of the scheme and communicate improvements to the advice service when ready.