Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has to encourage people living in rural areas to use wood pellets for fuel in their homes.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government expects most off-gas grid and rural properties will ultimately transition to heat pumps as these are a proven technology which have been installed in high numbers in other countries. Under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, grants are available for air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps is £7,500, and £5,000 is available for biomass boilers.
The Warm Homes Plan will help households, including rural off-gas grid households, take up measures like solar panels, heat pumps, batteries and insulation, helping them save money on their bills and benefit from cleaner, cheaper heating.
Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out by October.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
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 that (a) homes and (b) businesses in rural areas have adequate energy supplies during the implementation of Great Grid Upgrade infrastructure projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The transformation of our electricity network will increase capacity for users across GB. Investment under Ofgem’s next electricity distribution networks price control (2028-2033) will be informed by Regional Energy Strategic Plans, which will consider local area energy requirements and ensure timely reinforcement of networks for rural communities. To bring new electricity transmission infrastructure online, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) allows parts of the network to be temporarily switched off so that work can be conducted safely. NESO undertakes system access planning to ensure this process is efficient and economic, and the transmission system continues to operate within the Security and Quality of Supply Standards through all access windows, minimising impacts on customers.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating levels of funding to support the increased use of (a) heat pumps and (b) wood pellets based on levels of CO2 reduction.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will publish its carbon budget plan by October. This will set out the policy package to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all sectors of the economy, including the role of heat pumps and biomass (including wood pellets).
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides £7,500 grants to households to partially cover the cost of installing a heat pump in their home. Further detail on the Warm Homes Plan, including further funding for the Scheme, will be set out by October.
Biomass for electricity generation receives funding via the government’s Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference schemes.