Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for its policies of analysis from Aurora Energy Research which notes that rebalancing a share of planned Scottish offshore wind towards Scottish onshore wind after 2030 as part of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan would reduce energy system costs by £5 billion pounds a year.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is delivering the first Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP). This will consider the cost optimal types and locations of future energy infrastructure including onshore and offshore wind - whilst also factoring in environmental, societal, and other spatial interests.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 engage with the Scottish Government on the inclusion of onshore wind in Scotland in the upcoming Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan is being developed by the National Energy System Operator, following joint commissioning by the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments. It will assess electricity generation and storage across Great Britain, including onshore wind in Scotland, as part of future energy infrastructure planning.
We are engaging with the Scottish Government through SSEP analytical, advisory groups, and official-level discussions. This enables views on Scottish energy priorities, planning, consenting, environmental issues and renewable deliverability to inform the process.
The Scottish Government will also be able to provide formal views before the Secretary of State decides on the preferred pathway.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 for empowering local authorities to assess flexibility and microgrid opportunities before pursuing network buildout, in the context of the recommendations in the ADE: Demand report entitled Powered by People, Powered by Place.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has noted the Association for Decentralised Energy's report, Powered by People, Powered by Place, and recognises the importance of local evidence in identifying flexibility and other opportunities before network investment decisions are made.
The Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) methodology, being developed by the National Energy System Operator, proposes bringing together local authorities and stakeholders to help provide a whole-energy and bottom-up view of how local energy systems need to evolve to meet local and national priorities. Distribution Network Operators would remain responsible for detailed network planning, including flexibility, microgrid opportunities and network investment, informed by RESP outputs.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to Regional Energy Strategic Plans, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the 10% voting share for demand-side stakeholders on Strategic Boards, as highlighted in the ADE: Demand report entitled Powered by People, Powered by Place.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Responsibility for the development of Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP) and the governance arrangements sits with the National Energy System Operator (NESO), under Ofgem’s policy framework and guidance.
Following their consultation, NESO is currently finalising the RESP methodology, which includes the voting share of the Strategic Boards. DESNZ Secretary of State and Ofgem is due to review and approve the methodology in due course.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the ADE: Demand report entitled Powered by People, Powered by Place, what assessment has his Department has made of the appropriateness of the exclusion of contracted consumer-led flexibility data from the data collection process informing National Energy System Operation modelling for Regional Energy Strategic Plans.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has noted the Association for Decentralised Energy's report, Powered by People, Powered by Place.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) will be developing Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) to support whole-system distribution-level planning across energy demand, supply, storage and flexibility. The aim is for flexibility to form part of a number of RESP outputs, including modelled Pathways and Strategic Investment Need. We are working with NESO on the RESP methodology, which will be published in due course.
The distribution networks will remain responsible for detailed network planning, including consideration of contracted flexibility alongside network investments.