Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the average figure for energy production supplies to the grid was for (a) gas, (b) solar farms, (c) wind farms, (d) hydro-electric schemes, (e) nuclear, (f) biomass and (g) interconnectors for the last 12 months for which figures are available.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Figures for the historic electricity generation mix supplied to the grid in Great Britain are available on NESO’s data portal.
The Department also publishes quarterly data on the total electricity supply in the UK by fuel in Energy Trends Table 5.1. This includes production from major power producers and other generators (mainly combined heat and power plants serving industrial and other users). As these data include electricity generated and consumed on-site, coverage is broader than electricity supplied to the grid.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will take steps to provide financial support for pension-age carers, in the context of increases in the price cap for energy bills.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently, including pension-age carers. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past.
We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we are delivering the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households this winter. Last week, we published a consultation on expanding the Warm Home Discount scheme for next winter, where we propose to remove the high cost to heat threshold, making all those on means tested benefits eligible for the scheme. This would make those of pension age, who claim the Saving Credit element of Pension Credit, eligible for a rebate next winter.
In addition, I have also worked with energy suppliers to agree a £500 million Winter Commitment to help customers struggling with bills this winter. I would urge any consumers struggling with their energy bills to contact their energy supplier, local authority, or Citizens Advice to see what support they can receive.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of changing the climate change levy exemption for natural gas combined heat and power.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Climate Change Levy (CCL) is a tax on the supply of energy to businesses and the public sector, introduced in 2001 to encourage energy efficiency.
There are a number of CCL exemptions and reliefs, including for energy used by members of the Combined Heat & Power Quality Assurance (CHPQA) programme. Good CHP systems are the most energy efficient means of generating heat and power for many businesses and have more environmental benefits when compared to gas only generation. CHPQA was introduced to promote and reward best practice in CHP generation and members of the programme receive financial benefits, including tax relief on their CCL obligations.
As a tax, CCL policy is for the Chancellor and any representations will be considered as part of the tax policy making process. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are responsible for the CHPQA programme and will continue to review the objectives of programme in line with the missions and goals of the government.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to use biomethane generated from mandatory food waste collections from 2026-27 for (a) injection into the gas grid and (b) combustion for electricity generation.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy
The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) provides tariff-support for biomethane produced via anaerobic digestion (AD) and injected into the gas grid. It is expected to contribute 10.7MTCO2e of carbon savings over its lifetime.
The GGSS requires that at least 50% of all biomethane, by energy content, is produced using waste feedstocks. In England, we expect that food waste collected due to Simpler Recycling reforms will constitute a significant portion of AD feedstocks.
Food waste can also be used in AD Combined Heat and Power systems to produce electricity, with support provided through a number of the Department’s renewable electricity schemes.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to page 12 of the UK Green Buildings Council report entitled 100 days into Government: How Labour can build a better future, published on 15 October 2024, if he will make it his policy to introduce retrofit officers in every council to (a) develop local plans, (b) attract wider investment, (c) engage with households and supply chains and (d) oversee local one-stop shop retrofit services.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes Plan will be rolled out in partnership with local authorities, combined authorities and devolved governments. As a first step, the government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency.
At Autumn Budget, the government introduced the first integrated settlements with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and West Midlands Combined Authority, which include piloting the devolution of retrofit funding from 2025-26.
The upcoming English Devolution White Paper (due for publication in late 2024) will provide more detail on the government’s devolution plans, setting out an ambitious new framework for English devolution, moving power out of Westminster and back to those who know their areas best. It will give deeper powers for existing mayors as well as for new areas, including over house building and planning, as well as transport and skills.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
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 estimate of the cost per household of government support for biomass in (a) 2024, (b) 2025 and (c) 2026.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government provides support for biomass, for the purpose of heat and power generation, through active and legacy policy schemes, such as the Renewables Obligation (RO) and the Contracts for Difference (CfD). The annual cost of support is dependent on variables, such as the volume of electricity generation in a given year and the wholesale cost of electricity. The Department does not hold a combined estimate of the projected cost of these schemes for “biomass” in the years listed.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
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 assessment of the viability of hydrogen as an industrial fuel.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
Low carbon hydrogen is likely to be a leading option to decarbonise industrial processes that are harder or more expensive to electrify. We expect uptake of hydrogen via fuel switching of energy intensive sites, as well as those engaging in high temperature, direct-fired processes. Near-term opportunities for hydrogen conversion include high temperature steam boilers and combined heat and power (CHP) processes in sectors such as chemicals and refineries, especially in industrial clusters with early access to hydrogen.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to help large food manufacturing companies reduce high energy consumption.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is reviewing what levers can be introduced to help organisations to be more energy efficient. The Energy Efficiency Taskforce was launched to help achieve our target of reducing UK energy demand by 15% from 2021 levels by 2030.
The IETF, which supports industries including the food and drinks sector to cut energy consumption by investing in more efficient technologies, has been extended. Pending business case approval, Phase 3 will launch in early 2023.
Some food manufacturing companies are supported in reducing energy costs through the Climate Change Agreements Scheme and the Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance Programme.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether subsidies for biomass will be included under the contracts for difference scheme after 2027.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Biomass is eligible for the current Contracts for Difference Scheme for specific technologies including anaerobic digestion (above 5MW), landfill gas, sewage gas, advanced conversion technologies, energy from waste with combined heat and power and dedicated biomass plants with combined heat and power. Allocation Round 5 (AR5) opened in March 2023 for new projects with delivery years of 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 for pot 1 technologies and 2026/27 and 2027/28 for pot 2 technologies.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has published recent guidance for the (a) owners and (b) operators of large buildings in Greater London on replacing ageing (i) gas boilers and (ii) combined heat and power units with zero or ultra-low emission alternatives.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department has not published guidance for owners or operators of large buildings in London on replacing ageing gas boilers. Powering Up Britain sets out the Government's ambition to phase out new and replacement natural gas boilers by 2035.
In September 2021, the Government issued a call for evidence – ‘Combined heat and power: pathway to decarbonisation’ – in which it sought views on potential decarbonisation options. The feedback has been published and is informing future Government policy.