Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to ensure a just transition when moving from fossil fuels to a hydrogen-based economy.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As well as supporting UK energy independence, low carbon hydrogen will be critical to helping British industries transition from oil and gas, provide greener energy for power, transport and potentially home heating. Government’s working closely with the oil and gas industry to achieve a managed transition, including through the North Sea Transition Deal. Deal recognises the world-leading skills of the sector and supply chain and key role it could have in helping deliver net zero and Hydrogen production ambition. The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill sends a strong signal to support the continued investment necessary to our energy security and transition to cleaner technologies.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information her Department holds on how many homes were retrofitted for energy efficiency in the (a) social and (b) private sector in each of the last five years.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department publishes information on the number of homes retrofitted for energy efficiency in the last five years through the following government schemes: Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), Green Homes Grant Vouchers Scheme, Local Authority Delivery, Home Upgrade Grant, and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
SHDF retrofits social housing only. A breakdown of the number of homes retrofitted in the social and private sector can be found in the ECO and GBIS statistical releases.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to ensure that homes owned by private landlords achieve an energy performance certificate rating of C or above.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government will not raise Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) to EPC Band C for privately rented homes, but continues to encourage homeowners to improve the energy performance of their homes where they can.
We are spending £6bn this Parliament on making buildings cleaner and warmer. That is in addition to the £5bn that will be delivered through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme up to March 2026. We have also announced a further £6bn worth of support up to 2028 to help around a million families cut their energy use.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will review the effectiveness of the Energy Company Obligation flex scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department monitors and is evaluating all aspects of ECO4, including ECO Flex.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is taking steps to maintain energy security in the context of the availability of electricity supplies from (a) central and (b) western Europe.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK has a secure and diverse energy system. The market has successfully delivered sufficient electricity supplies amidst a recent period characterised by high energy prices and increased uncertainties caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Electricity System Operator’s (ESO) Summer Outlook expects sufficient supply to meet demand at all times this summer; net imports into Great Britain from mainland Europe; and to be able to support exports if needed.
We continue to work with Ofgem and ESO to monitor energy security and ensure ESO can deploy all tools at its disposal if needed to secure supply.
ESO Summer Outlook weblink: https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/316126/download
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made representations to HM Treasury on the inclusion of imported electricity in Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism taxation.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Electricity generation was not included within the initial sectoral scope of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), announced in December 2023. The approach aligns with free allowance allocations, under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which are not provided to electricity generators.
In making the decision, the government looked primarily at three factors: inclusion in the UK ETS, carbon leakage risk, and feasibility and effectiveness.
The sectoral scope of a UK CBAM will remain under review. The design and delivery of a CBAM is subject to consultation, closing on 13 June 2024.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many staff have left her Department since its creation.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The number of employees that have left the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) since Department records began is 389.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of electricity is forecast to be imported via interconnector by (a) 2030 and (b) 2040.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As set out in our net zero and power sector scenarios,[1] the UK could become a net electricity exporter in future. In 2030, net exports are 2.4% of gross generation supplied in the higher electricity demand scenario. The UK remains a net importer in the lower electricity demand scenario with net imports providing an additional 2.3% to gross generation supplied. In 2040, net exports are 8.2% of gross generation supplied in the higher electricity demand scenario and 6.6% in the lower demand scenario.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-and-emissions-projections-2021-to-2040
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she has taken to ensure the UK's energy security, in the context of ongoing regional conflicts in the Middle East.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Global energy markets continue to function normally and we have not seen any significant impact to the energy market in light of Iran’s attack on Israel. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
Retail prices of petrol and diesel are primarily driven by the underlying prices in global oil markets and exchange rates. These are currently well within normal ranges of volatility and the market is functioning normally.
We continue to work with Ofgem, system operators and industry to monitor our energy security and ensure these organisations can deploy all tools at their disposal if needed to secure our supply.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will take steps to reform the capacity market to ensure that new gas power plants have parity with interconnectors.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The technology-neutral Capacity Market (CM) provides all forms of capacity, including new and existing gas generation and interconnectors, with the right incentives to be on the system to deliver when needed.
All capacity in the CM is derated by technology type, to account for expected contributions to electricity security of supply during times of system stress. Derating factors for all technology types are determined annually and are set out in the Electricity System Operator’s Electricity Capacity Report and Secretary of State’s decision on CM auction parameters each year and are published online.