Information between 18th July 2026 - 28th July 2026
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| Parliamentary Debates |
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National Energy System Operator: Blackout Risk
13 speeches (1,337 words) Monday 20th July 2026 - Lords Chamber Department for Energy Security & Net Zero |
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Energy Prices Act 2022 (Extension of Time Limit) (No. 2) Regulations 2026
2 speeches (32 words) Monday 20th July 2026 - Lords Chamber Department for Energy Security & Net Zero |
| Written Answers |
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Drax Group
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere) Monday 20th July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, further to Question 14369, whether he will place in the Library details of (a) the dates and participants of any meetings and (b) any written correspondence between his Department and the Financial Conduct Authority referring to its investigation into Drax Group plc during the last six months. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) provided the link to their online press statement on 18 June, confirming that their investigation had concluded and no further action would be taken. The Department has had no other correspondence with the FCA on this matter, nor have any meetings taken place with the FCA. |
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Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Agency Workers
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings) Monday 20th July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many agency staff were employed by his Department in each of the last three years. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The Department employed 99 agency staff in 2024, 85 in 2025 and 59 so far in 2026. |
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Drax Group
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere) Monday 20th July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will ask Ofgem to disclose (a) when Drax Group plc first informed Ofgem of the existence of the December 2022 and February 2023 KPMG reports and (b) whether Ofgem obtained unfettered access to unredacted versions of those reports before concluding its investigation in August 2024. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) As requested, I will ask Ofgem to write to the Rt hon Member in due course to set out responses to your questions.
Please note that Ofgem kept DESNZ officials suitably informed of the progress of its investigation and the documents it accessed in the course of reaching its findings, including the KPMG reports. |
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Warm Homes Plan
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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 merits of introducing a direct-payment mechanism under the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme to enable grant funding to be paid directly to a TrustMark-registered and MCS-certified installer where a local authority confirms that it is unable to provide a nationally eligible measure through its local delivery arrangements. Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme provides grant funding to local authorities to deliver energy performance upgrades and low carbon heating to low-income privately owned homes in England below EPC Band C. This includes homes both on and off the gas grid.
The scheme is locally administered and delivered by local authorities. They provide oversight of upgrades in their area, ensuring high quality and monitoring compliance with the required rules and standards of the scheme.
There are no current plans to allow a direct to installer route. |
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Energy: Charities
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with Ofgem on the potential impact of the RIIO-3 Transmission Network Use of System charges on the charitable sector; and if he will consider the potential merits of extending energy-intensive exemptions or relief schemes to registered charities operating high-energy community facilities. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) Electricity network charging is a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges recover the fixed costs of maintaining and expanding the high-voltage network, and are paid by all network users.
Recent TNUoS increases reflect essential transmission investment agreed under the latest price control (RIIO-3). Ofgem has assessed the impact on domestic and non-domestic consumers and expects the benefits to outweigh the costs by the end of the period — see the RIIO-3 Final Determinations Impact Assessment.
The relief schemes referenced are limited to foundational industries at risk of carbon leakage or frontier manufacturers, to support international competitiveness.
Over the longer term, Ofgem is conducting a holistic review of how energy system costs should be paid for. Their most recent update regarding this review can be found here: Energy system cost allocation and recovery review - Ofgem - Citizen Space. |
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Offshore Industry: North Sea
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the economic impact of changes in North Sea oil and gas activity on the north-east of Scotland. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The North Sea basin is mature and in long-term decline, with oil and gas production falling by around 75% between 1999 and 2024. This has affected employment and investment in oil and gas, particularly in north-east Scotland.
Britain is well-placed to mobilise our natural advantage, using the skills and expertise of our offshore workforce and supply chain to get ahead in the global race for new jobs and industries.
The North Sea Future Plan sets out how the government will deliver end to end support, including North Sea Jobs Service, helping workers, communities and businesses benefit from clean energy opportunities. |
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National Energy System Operator
Asked by: Torcuil Crichton (Labour - Na h-Eileanan an Iar) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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 adequacy of the resolution procedures available to parties adversely affected by NESO decisions. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) While the Secretary of State is the sole shareholder of NESO, NESO is operationally independent of Government. Ofgem is the independent regulator of NESO and is responsible for approving its business plan, ensuring cost efficiency and driving high performance. As such, the Secretary of State has made no assessment specifically relating to resolution procedures. |
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Energy: Artificial Intelligence
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the computational and energy requirements of (a) the machine learning and optimisation techniques used for electricity network management and (b) large language models. Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) Machine learning is not currently used for electricity grid management. Any future energy required will depend on how machine learning will be used.
The UK Government contracted Europe Economics to research whether future electricity demand from AI data centres will add to overall UK energy demand, or whether it will replace electricity currently used elsewhere in the economy (Europe Economics study). We have also recently procured a follow-up study in order to extend the methodology from the Europe Economics work to further 10 use cases. |
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Offshore Industry: Employment
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of government policy on employment in Scotland's offshore oil and gas sector since July 2024. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The North Sea is a mature basin, and production has been in natural decline for many years. Employment in oil and gas has therefore been declining over a prolonged period. Office for National Statistics data shows direct oil and gas employment fell by around a third between 2014 and 2024.
Since 2024, the Government has set out measures to support workers and communities through the transition, including through the North Sea Jobs Service and the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund. |
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Warm Homes Plan
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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 ensure that policy changes arising from consultations relevant to the Warm Homes Plan are implemented in time to support delivery of that Plan's objectives. Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The government is committed to delivering the Warm Homes Plan at pace. We will carefully consider responses to consultations relevant to the Plan and will implement policy changes in line with legislative and delivery timetables. |
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Wind Power: Seas and Oceans
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made (a) an estimate of the cost of the Hornsea windfarm project in the North Sea and (b) a comparative assessment of the efficiency of the project with drilling oil in the same area. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) Offshore wind continues to play a key role in the future electricity system. There are several different Hornsea offshore wind farms, each developed privately and supported through different competitive allocation rounds, with project-specific costs known to their respective developers. Hornsea 4 remains in development and has not yet secured government support; it will need to demonstrate value for money through a future allocation round. The latest Allocation Round (AR7) secured offshore wind capacity at a price 40% lower than the cost and operating a new gas-fired generation.
The Department has not made a comparative assessment of the efficiency of the project against drilling for oil in the same area. |
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Offshore Industry: Methane
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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 cost-effectiveness of unsupported flaring, in terms of cost per tonne of CO₂ equivalent abated, compared with other methane abatement measures. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The term 'unsupported flaring’ is not used by the government. Oil and gas operators are required to deliver zero routine flaring on their assets by 2030 and submit costed Emissions Reduction Action Plans to the North Sea Transition Authority. Flaring activity accounts for approximately 16% of offshore upstream oil and gas greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from flaring are primarily carbon dioxide.
In its Emissions Monitoring Report 2025, the NSTA estimated that flaring from UK oil and gas production fell by 51% between 2018 and 2024, and that absolute methane emissions from oil and gas production fell by more than 60%. |
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Energy: Housing
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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 merits of the co-operative model for energy retrofit. Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The government recognises the essential role that local places play in accelerating progress towards net zero and is committed to working in partnership with Local Authorities and Mayoral Strategic Authorities to deliver the Warm Homes Plan through an area-based approach. This includes looking at examples of best practice of localised and community models delivering homes decarbonisation at the scale needed to make more comfortable homes and bring down bills for more people. |
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Energy: Civil Society
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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 impact of the Nuclear Regulated Asset Base levy on registered charities and non-profit community organisations; and what steps he is taking to support these organisations in the context of increasing non-commodity energy costs. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The Department has not made a specific assessment on the impact of the nuclear Regulated Asset Base (RAB) on registered charities and non-profit community organisations.
The impact of RAB levies on a typical household bill is an average of around £1 per month over the duration of Sizewell C’s construction. Once operational, Sizewell C could create savings of around £2 billion a year across the future low–carbon electricity system, resulting in cheaper power for consumers.
Ofgem is conducting a holistic review of how energy system costs should be paid for in the future, as part of its Cost Allocation and Recovery Review (CARR).
Ofgem’s work on the non-domestic market has highlighted the need to improve pricing transparency. Government has acted to strengthen protections for these consumers so they can better understand what they are being charged and access better value contracts. |
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Energy: Housing
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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 make timely decisions on energy efficiency and retrofit schemes, the mobilisation of the Warm Homes Plan and associated policy changes to avoid the loss of workforce capacity, skills and investment between programmes. Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The Government is committed to delivering the Warm Homes Plan at pace while providing clarity and a stable pipeline for industry. We are working across energy efficiency and retrofit policy to support timely decisions on scheme design, mobilisation, and implementation. This includes considering workforce capacity, skills, and supply chain impacts as part of scheme development. We are also working with the TUC through the Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce to support jobs and skills across the sector. We will continue to engage with delivery partners and industry to support investment and minimise disruption between programmes. |
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Community Energy: Buckinghamshire
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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 support the uptake of the local power plan by (i) Buckinghamshire Council and (ii) Milton Keynes City Council. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) On 10 February 2026, we announced the Local Power Plan (LPP): a joint DESNZ‑Great British Energy (GBE) publication setting out the UK’s largest ever public investment in community energy, up to £1 billion. GBE will aim to support at least 1000 local and community energy projects by 2030.
Buckinghamshire Council and Milton Keynes Council may wish to engage with GBE through its Expression of Interest process, now open on the GBE website. This non‑binding process allows communities, local government and businesses to share proposals so that support can be targeted effectively as funding tools and advisory services are rolled out. |
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Energy: Artificial Intelligence
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the data-centre capacity required to deliver the grid applications identified in the Interim AI Adoption Plan: Clean Energy. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The Department has not produced an estimate of the data-centre capacity required specifically for the grid applications identified in the Interim AI Adoption Plan: Clean Energy.
The Government is, however, undertaking broader analysis of the potential growth in demand from AI and data centres as part of ongoing work on energy demand projections, electricity network planning and AI infrastructure policy. |
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Geothermal Power
Asked by: Dan Norris (Independent - North East Somerset and Hanham) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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 merits geothermal heat systems which use the water in flooded former coalmines. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) I refer the hon Member to the answer given to him on 20th October 2025 to Question UIN 7797. |
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Net Zero Teesside Power: Iron and Steel
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he made of requiring the structural steel used in the Net Zero Teesside carbon capture, utilisation and storage project to be (a) produced and (b) fabricated in the UK. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The Government knows it is important to communities across the country that we use UK-made steel. We are ambitious about increasing the use of UK made steel in UK energy and infrastructure projects where possible.
Net Zero Teesside is not a public procurement (so public procurement guidelines do not apply) but we have spoken to the project developer to understand more about the use of UK and non-UK steel, as well as the wider use of UK local content, in the project. They confirmed their voluntary commitment to achieve more than 50% UK content across the value chain, with around £1.5 billion UK-based sub-contracts already awarded.
We want to champion UK steelmaking and our steel communities now and for generations to come and my colleagues at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are looking at how greater UK content will be used in future projects. |
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Fuel Poverty
Asked by: Luke Murphy (Labour - Basingstoke) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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 data held across HM Treasury, HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions is used effectively to reduce fuel poverty and improve the targeting of energy affordability support. Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The Government recognises the pressure that rising energy prices place on households. We already use data from multiple sources including HMRC and DWP to identify households eligible for the Warm Home Discount, enabling most rebates to be paid automatically. However, many fuel poor households cannot currently be identified through existing data-matching arrangements.
The Government earlier this year launched a National Data Library 'kickstarter' project to explore whether securely connecting public sector data can make it easier to identify households in need, to ensure support reaches the people it’s designed for faster. |
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Energy Performance Certificates
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Energy Performance Certificate methodology for determining eligibility for Government-funded low-carbon heating and energy-efficiency schemes. Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The government is reforming Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to ensure they provide a more complete assessment of a home's energy performance. We will introduce four headline metrics for domestic EPCs: Fabric Performance, Heating System, Smart Readiness and Energy Cost.
Moving from a single headline metric to a suite of complementary metrics will allow government schemes to choose the metrics most relevant to their objectives when determining eligibility and targeting support. The government is considering the interaction between reformed EPCs and government-funded energy efficiency and low-carbon heating schemes as part of the development of both future schemes and EPC reforms. |
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Fuel Poverty
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Warm Homes Plan target of lifting one million households out of fuel poverty in meeting statutory fuel poverty objectives. Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) Tackling fuel poverty is a priority for this Government. Through the 2026 Fuel Poverty Strategy for England and the Warm Homes Plan, we are taking action to accelerate progress, with an ambition to lift up to 1 million households out of fuel poverty by 2030. This will be achieved through new regulations in the rental sector as well as £5 billion of support from the Warm Homes Plan for low-income households and the expanded Warm Home Discount.
The Fuel Poverty Strategy acknowledged that sustained action beyond 2030 will be required to tackle fuel poverty and committed to consulting on a new fuel poverty target to succeed the 2030 target. |
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Wind Power: Scotland
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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. |
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Wind Power: Scotland
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath) Tuesday 21st July 2026 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. |
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Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Pay
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for each Arm's Length Body (ALB) their Department sponsors, (a) how many people are employed in the following bands of total earnings, or nearest equivalent, (i) under £25,000, (ii) £ 25,001 to £ 35,000, (iii) £35,001 to £50,270, (iv) £50,271 to £100,00, (v) £100,001 to £ 125,140 and (vi) over £125,140, and (b) what estimate they have made of the total unfunded public sector pension liability. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The information in question (a) is held by each ALB and not by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero .
Similar to above, the information for question b is held by the ALB’s and would not be held by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero . |
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Climate Security Taskforce
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the Climate Security Taskforce's planned timetable is for holding its first meeting; and whether a record of that meeting will be published. Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The Taskforce on the National Security and Resilience Risks of a Changing Climate and Nature Loss will meet for the first time in the Autumn. A record of that meeting will not be published to allow for open and candid discussion among participants. The public will be kept informed of the Taskforce’s progress and outputs, and we will set out our approach to this in due course. |
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Energy: Costs
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase energy security and lower energy costs; and what assessment they have made as to the potential impact of the conflict in the Middle East on domestic energy bills. Answered by Lord Whitehead The events in the Middle East underline the risks of continued dependence on fossil fuels and the importance of accelerating our transition to clean energy. That is why we are driving further and faster for clean homegrown power that we control to protect the British people and bring down bills for good.
The Government acted at last year’s Budget by taking on average £150 of costs off energy bills and we have also extended the Warm Home Discount to cover around 6 million households. We will continue to monitor the situation ahead of the winter and plan for all contingencies. |
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Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Buildings
Asked by: Lord Houchen of High Leven (Conservative - Life peer) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) desks, and (2) civil servants, are assigned to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero office in 55 Whitehall. Answered by Lord Whitehead On 30 June 2026, 55 Whitehall and 3-8 Whitehall Place had 1104 desk work settings, and 2970 active civil servants as their contracted office location.
55 Whitehall and 3-8 Whitehall Place are two adjacent conjoined buildings that provide the main London office space for the Department. |
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Hydroelectric Power
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask His Majesty's Government how many new pumped storage hydro electricity generation plants have been authorised in (1) England, (2) Scotland, and (3) Wales, since 5 July 2024. Answered by Lord Whitehead Planning consent is a matter for the relevant planning authority, which varies by country. The UK Government would only be responsible for consenting pumped storage hydro (PSH) projects in England above 50MW. In practice, these do not exist given more suitable topography in other parts of Britain.
On 26 June 2026, Ofgem published its "minded-to" decisions on projects to be supported under the Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) cap and floor investment support scheme. This includes three PSH projects, all located in Scotland: Loch Kemp, Coire Glas and Earba. The latter two projects already have planning consent. No PSH projects in England applied to the scheme, and none in Wales passed an earlier eligibility assessment. Ofgem is now consulting on these decisions before confirming final awards in autumn 2026. |
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Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Equality
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many FTE equivalent staff in (a) their Department and (b) each Arm's Length Body it sponsors are dedicated to fulfilment of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED); what the (i) annual employment and (ii) total annual cost incurred is as a result of PSED and compliance with PSED for each of those bodies; what the outputs are from the work of PSED teams and personnel dedicated to PSED; and if they will publish an assessment of their Department's compliance with PSED. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) Fewer than five full-time equivalent staff in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are dedicated to the fulfilment of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).
The exact number, associated annual employment costs and total annual costs are not disclosed to protect the identity of individual members of staff, in line with data protection principles.
Resourcing for PSED activity in Arm's Length Bodies is a matter for each body and is not held centrally by the Department; the hon. Member may wish to contact individual bodies directly.
The Department's PSED outputs include the annual publication of equality objectives and progress against them, building departmental capability through training, and producing guidance and resources. The Department's compliance with the PSED is published annually; the latest publication is DESNZ equality objectives and information: 2025 to 2026. |
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Solar Power
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings) Tuesday 21st July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the volume of Best and Most Versatile land which will be used to host solar panels resulting from Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects approved in the last five years. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The government does not currently hold this information.
However, the Department currently monitors the geographical location of solar developments through the Renewable Energy Planning Database. There are plans to broaden the scope of this database to provide information on the area and types of agricultural land used by solar projects.
Planning policies guide developments away from Best and Most Versatile land where possible. The Solar Roadmap published in June 2025 sets out how much land we expect to be taken up by solar farms. Even in ambitious scenarios, we only expect up to 0.4% of total UK land, and up to 0.6% of total agricultural land, to be occupied by 2030. |
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Solar Power: Finance
Asked by: Lord Booth (Conservative - Life peer) Tuesday 28th July 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask His Majesty's Government whether ECO4 grants are still available to eligible individuals or bodies for solar panels and battery storage until December; and whether there is an obligation on energy companies to process new applications. Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) ECO4 is not a grant scheme. Obligated energy suppliers fund and deliver measures to eligible households, recovering costs through energy bills. Battery storage is not eligible under ECO4. ECO4 has been extended to 31 December 2026 to give suppliers more time to meet their targets, complete outstanding obligations, and carry out remediation. Whilst new applications are allowed, some energy suppliers may slow delivery of measures including solar panels or reduce supply-chain contracting, which could limit support for some households. The extension gives more time for existing commitments but does not create new obligations or increase targets. |
| Secondary Legislation |
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Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2026 These Regulations amend the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/1768) and the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2665). Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation - Made negative Laid: Friday 17th July - In Force: 27 Aug 2026 |
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Offshore (Oil and Gas) Installation and Pipeline Abandonment Charges (Revocation) Regulations 2026 These Regulations introduce charges for or in connection with the carrying out by the Secretary of State of the Secretary of State’s functions under Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (c. 17) (“the 1998 Act”). Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation - Made negative Laid: Monday 20th July - In Force: 30 Sep 2026 |
| Department Publications - News and Communications |
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Tuesday 21st July 2026
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Source Page: Capacity Market auction parameters: letter from DESNZ to NESO, July 2026 Document: (PDF) |
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Tuesday 21st July 2026
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Source Page: Capacity Market auction parameters: letter from DESNZ to NESO, July 2026 Document: Capacity Market auction parameters: letter from DESNZ to NESO, July 2026 (webpage) |
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Monday 27th July 2026
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Source Page: Government to support evacuated residents in Coalsnaughton Document: Government to support evacuated residents in Coalsnaughton (webpage) |
| Department Publications - Transparency |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Source Page: DESNZ workforce management information, June 2026 Document: (webpage) |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Source Page: DESNZ workforce management information, June 2026 Document: DESNZ workforce management information, June 2026 (webpage) |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Source Page: DESNZ workforce management information, June 2026 Document: View online (webpage) |
| National Audit Office |
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Jul. 20 2026
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Accounts 2025-26 (webpage) Found: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Accounts 2025-26 - NAO report |
| Department Publications - Statistics |
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Monday 27th July 2026
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Source Page: Public procurement through VCSEs, 2019/20 to 2023/24 Document: (PDF) Found: 38 £77m MOD 119 £40m BEIS 47 £39m Cabinet Office 44 £33m DBT 107 £31m DSIT 210 £29m DCMS 115 £16m DESNZ |
| Department Publications - News and Communications |
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Friday 24th July 2026
Cabinet Office Source Page: AI to power change at the heart of government as Lord Vallance appointed chair of new PM AI Taskforce Document: AI to power change at the heart of government as Lord Vallance appointed chair of new PM AI Taskforce (webpage) Found: for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ |
| Department Publications - Guidance |
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Friday 24th July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Using UK greenhouse gas inventory data in UK ETS monitoring and reporting: the country-specific factor list Document: (Excel) Found: to contact for further informationFor queries and further information please contact UK ETS team at DESNZ |
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Friday 24th July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Using UK greenhouse gas inventory data in UK ETS monitoring and reporting: the country-specific factor list Document: (Excel) Found: to contact for further informationFor queries and further information please contact UK ETS team at DESNZ |
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Friday 24th July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Using UK greenhouse gas inventory data in UK ETS monitoring and reporting: the country-specific factor list Document: (Excel) Found: to contact for further informationFor queries and further information please contact UK ETS team at DESNZ |
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Friday 24th July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Using UK greenhouse gas inventory data in UK ETS monitoring and reporting: the country-specific factor list Document: (Excel) Found: queries and further information please contact UK ETS team at Dept. for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Cabinet Office Source Page: Guidance for civil servants: How to move jobs between departments and agencies Document: (Excel) Found: Address details - Only complete for transfers into DSIT (including GO-Science) and DESNZ (including Integrated |
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Monday 20th July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process Document: (PDF) Found: April 2024 Recent Offshore Energy SEA funded projects Since 1999, the UK ’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero |
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Monday 20th July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process Document: (PDF) Found: DESNZ Offshore Energy SEA Research January 2026 Recent Papers from DESNZ Offshore Energy SEA funded |
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Monday 20th July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process Document: (PDF) Found: 15 Based on knowledge of potential sources of effect resulting from the activities (from previous DESNZ |
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Monday 20th July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process Document: (PDF) Found: effects in OESEA4 (BEIS 2022) and the HRA exercise for the 2nd carbon dioxide storage licensing round (DESNZ |
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Monday 20th July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process Document: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process (webpage) Found: The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (the Department) has taken a proactive stance on the use |
| Department Publications - Transparency |
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Thursday 23rd July 2026
Department for Business and Trade Source Page: DBT: spending over £25,000, May 2026 Document: (webpage) Found: and Technology) - DBT - CS - DDaT Service Management Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ |
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Tuesday 21st July 2026
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Source Page: Natural History Museum Annual Report and Accounts 2025 to 2026 Document: (PDF) Found: process data across a broad range of categories and utilise the GHG Protocol methodology and the DESNZ |
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Monday 20th July 2026
Department for Business and Trade Source Page: UK strategic export controls annual report 2025 Document: (PDF) Found: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) DESNZ plays a key role in HM Government’s chemical |
| Department Publications - Research |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: whilst an Event of First User Delay is continuing. 248This publication is available from: www.gov.uk/desnz |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: may be permitted to use one of the two exceptions to the default measurement method if agreed by DESNZ |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: Misleading CO₂ Measurement Data Termination Event will be 32 This is subject to further review by DESNZ |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: ), as identified on the plan in Annex 1 (Description of the Installation);] 14 Note to Reader: DESNZ |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: may be permitted to use one of the two exceptions to the default measurement method if agreed by DESNZ |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: The draft provisions do not indicate any willingness or agreement on the part of DESNZ to enter into |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: The draft provisions do not indicate any willingness or agreement on the part of DESNZ to enter into |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models (webpage) Found: template full form CCS Network Code, developed in partnership with industry, expert advisors, and DESNZ |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: The draft provisions do not indicate any willingness or agreement on the part of DESNZ to enter into |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: If applicable, such funding shall be notified to, and verified by, DESNZ on a project-by-project basis |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: Access Agreement (TAA) expected to be offered by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Source Page: Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): business models Document: (PDF) Found: The draft provisions do not indicate any willingness or agreement on the part of DESNZ to enter into, |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Source Page: Housing Statistics for Rural England Document: (PDF) Found: Figure 3.5 of the DESNZ / BEIS fuel poverty statistics publication shows that a higher proportion of |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Source Page: Housing Statistics for Rural England Document: (webpage) Found: Figure 3.5 of the DESNZ / BEIS fuel poverty statistics publication shows that a higher proportion of |
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Source Page: International environmental protection report Document: International environmental protection report (webpage) Found: Defra works closely with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) for climate developments |
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Thursday 16th July 2026
HM Treasury Source Page: Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2026 Document: (PDF) Found: This affects the budgets of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). 1.6 Expenditure |
| Non-Departmental Publications - Guidance and Regulation |
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Aug. 03 2026
Government Office for Science Source Page: Implementing the Concordat to support research integrity within government Document: Implementing the Concordat to support research integrity within government (webpage) Guidance and Regulation Found: Office: Concordat to Support Research Integrity 2023-24 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero DESNZ |
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Aug. 03 2026
Government Office for Science Source Page: Implementing the Concordat to support research integrity within government Document: Implementing the Concordat to support research integrity within government (webpage) Guidance and Regulation Found: Office: Concordat to Support Research Integrity 2023-24 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero DESNZ |
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Aug. 03 2026
Government Office for Science Source Page: Implementing the Concordat to support research integrity within government Document: Implementing the Concordat to support research integrity within government (webpage) Guidance and Regulation Found: Office: Concordat to Support Research Integrity 2023-24 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero DESNZ |
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Jul. 20 2026
Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning Source Page: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process Document: (PDF) Guidance and Regulation Found: 15 Based on knowledge of potential sources of effect resulting from the activities (from previous DESNZ |
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Jul. 20 2026
Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning Source Page: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process Document: (PDF) Guidance and Regulation Found: April 2024 Recent Offshore Energy SEA funded projects Since 1999, the UK ’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero |
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Jul. 20 2026
Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning Source Page: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process Document: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process (webpage) Guidance and Regulation Found: The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (the Department) has taken a proactive stance on the use |
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Jul. 20 2026
Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning Source Page: Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An overview of the SEA process Document: (PDF) Guidance and Regulation Found: DESNZ Offshore Energy SEA Research January 2026 Recent Papers from DESNZ Offshore Energy SEA funded |
| Non-Departmental Publications - Statistics |
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Jul. 27 2026
Industrial Strategy Advisory Council Source Page: Industrial Strategy Advisory Council: increasing employer investment in skills Document: (PDF) Statistics Found: Case Study - Fair Work Charter and skills commitments in offshore wind (DESNZ) The Department for |
| Non-Departmental Publications - Transparency |
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Jul. 24 2026
Oil and Gas Authority Source Page: OGA/NSTA annual report and accounts, 2025 to 2026 Document: (PDF) Transparency Found: NSTA/DESNZ financial risk as decommissioner of last resort. |
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Jul. 22 2026
National Gallery Source Page: The National Gallery Annual Report and Accounts 2025 to 2026 Document: (PDF) Transparency Found: The carbon factors are updated annually by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). |
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Jul. 21 2026
Natural History Museum Source Page: Natural History Museum Annual Report and Accounts 2025 to 2026 Document: (PDF) Transparency Found: process data across a broad range of categories and utilise the GHG Protocol methodology and the DESNZ |
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Jul. 20 2026
Civil Nuclear Constabulary Source Page: CNPA Annual Report and Accounts 2025/26 Document: (PDF) Transparency Found: and is accountable to the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ |
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Jul. 20 2026
Export Control Joint Unit Source Page: UK strategic export controls annual report 2025 Document: (PDF) Transparency Found: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) DESNZ plays a key role in HM Government’s chemical |
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Jul. 20 2026
Export Control Joint Unit Source Page: UK strategic export controls annual report 2025 Document: (PDF) Transparency Found: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) DESNZ plays a key role in HM Government’s chemical |
| Non-Departmental Publications - Open consultation |
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Jul. 20 2026
Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning Source Page: 2nd Offshore Carbon Dioxide Storage Licensing Round Appropriate Assessment Document: (PDF) Open consultation Found: Yes DESNZ strongly recommend operators early consultation with SNCBs on proposed activities (e.g. |