Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in relation to recent spending by Great British Energy on solar panels for use by schools and hospitals, what assessment they have made of the merits of (1) sourcing solar panels from manufacturers outside China, and (2) spending money from this scheme on creating solar panel manufacturing capacity in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
For solar projects, the Department for Education (DfE), the Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC) and their partners are procuring the solar panels in line with strict procurement controls. While these panels could come from anywhere in the world, we know that around 95% of global polysilicon, ingot and wafer production, required for the manufacture of solar panels, happens in China [1].
Whilst China has a long-established strong position in conventional solar, there are emerging opportunities in solar supply chains which the UK can capture by leaning into our strengths as a scientific and innovation superpower. Alongside Great British Energy delivering over £200m investment for local and community energy, we have several other pioneering companies developing the next generation of cutting-edge solar technologies, including perovskite and thin film. In the Solar Roadmap, we have committed to consider the case to further support companies looking to scale up the production of these parts – so that UK companies don’t just generate innovative ideas but build them as well.
[1]Based on previous estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA): https://www.iea.org/reports/solar-pv-global-supply-chains/
Asked by: Lord Hart of Tenby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what actions they are taking to address international competitiveness in the oil refining sector, and to avoid further job losses, following the closure of Grangemouth Refinery and the insolvency of Lindsey Oil Refinery.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The refining sector is a vital part of the UK’s economy, and the Government is determined to work with industry to ensure UK refineries remain internationally competitive. That is why this Government has announced an urgent review of the methodology for the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme, helping to assess future coverage for the sector.
We have also invested in carbon capture, usage and storage projects and implemented the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate, enabling the refining sector to maximise the opportunities created by the clean energy transition.
My Honourable Friend Minister Shanks met the refinery sector in June to discuss these issues and will continue to engage with the industry to address long-standing issues.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that Chinese-made solar panels purchased by Great British Energy for use in UK schools and hospitals have not been manufactured by slave labour; whether these purchases conform with section 3(2)(e) of Great British Energy Act 2025; and who is responsible for assessing this.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are strict procurement controls in place for schools and hospitals to ensure as far as possible any solar panels are free from forced labour.
This includes the Procurement Act which will enable contracting authorities to reject bids and terminate contracts with suppliers which have previously committed an offence under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, or where there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the supplier has engaged in this conduct.
We take this issue extremely seriously and will also be placing reporting commitments around the procurement process on panels as part of the funding agreements.
Through Great British Energy we will help build the supply chains needed to support a new era of clean homegrown power, bringing jobs and investment.
Asked by: Lord Strathcarron (Non-affiliated - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the cost of upgrading the electricity grid is estimated at £60 billion in the report Clean Power 2030, published on 5 November 2024 by the National Energy System Operator, and at £80 billion in the Ofgem press release on 1 July about initial investment in energy security; and whether they will update their costing.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The £80bn cost estimate in Ofgem’s Draft Determinations for RIIO ET3, which covers 2026/27 to 2030/31, is not exclusively spending required to deliver the transmission network needed to deliver 2030 Clean Power, but also takes into account wider operational costs such as maintenance of existing assets, and includes some spend beyond 2030. Ofgem and NESO regularly review and update their cost estimates for electricity networks.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) value for money, and (2) environmental impact, of providing grants to householders to install types of air conditioning which are environmentally friendly.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Warm Homes Plan will reduce energy bills and transform homes to be comfortable and low carbon by accelerating the installation of new technologies like heat pumps. The department is also conducting research to ensure homes are resilient to the future climate by identifying the buildings most vulnerable to extreme heat. This research is informing the adaptation solutions in the Warm Homes Plan which will publish in October.
The department recently consulted on expanding the scope of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to allow air-to-air heat pumps to receive grant funding. The Government Response will be published in due course. Advantages of air-to-air heat pumps include the ability to provide cooling, dehumidification, and air filtration in addition to space heating.
Asked by: Lord Offord of Garvel (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the Scottish Government to develop new nuclear power stations.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Planning policy is devolved to the Scottish Government and they have made it clear they oppose the building of new nuclear power stations.
The UK Government works productively with the Scottish Government on a range of energy issues and we would welcome engagement on new nuclear given the growing interest in the potential for projects in Scotland and the opportunity for jobs and skills across the country, should the position on planning change.
Asked by: Lord Offord of Garvel (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of threats to national security as a result of importing clean energy industry infrastructure such as wind turbines and solar panels, in particular from China; and what steps they are taking to minimise those risks.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. Investment in the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny – we take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.
DESNZ works closely with industry and other government departments to maintain a detailed picture of ownership and foreign involvement in energy infrastructure, including for investors from key manufacturing regions such as China, other Asian countries, and Europe.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with Ofgem to publish updated planning and grid connection guidance for digital infrastructure to prevent bottlenecks in the grid connections queue and to ensure that other sectors are not deprioritised in favour of data centres.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As announced in the Industrial Strategy, my department is developing measures to accelerate the connection of high-value strategic demand projects in a wide range of sectors, while continuing to support all users to connect to the grid more quickly through broader grid upgrades.
The Department is also working with Ofgem on its End-to-End Review of the obligations and incentives pertaining to network companies in the delivery of grid connections. This will improve customer communications and ensure high levels of service for all customers. This complements ongoing, fundamental reforms to the connections process that will significantly reduce congestion and bottlenecks.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the barriers faced by charitable organisations, financial or otherwise, when looking to join heat networks; and whether they will provide support to charitable organisations to overcome these barriers.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Charitable organisations use a diverse range of buildings, thus there is no one-size-fits-all solution for how they decarbonise their buildings. In high-density urban areas, heat networks are often the lowest-cost, low-carbon heating solution.
The Government has a number of schemes to support the development and growth of heat networks, including the Green Heat Network Fund, which provides funding to develop new and existing low carbon heat networks across England.
We are working across Government and with the National Wealth Fund to explore further funding opportunities for the heat networks sector that will catalyse more private investment and support more connections.
Asked by: Lord Offord of Garvel (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the national security risks of a strike by unionised energy sector workers; what plans they have to minimise those risks; and what steps they are taking to ensure that clean energy industries are appealing to private sector investors as workers in that industry unionise.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This Government continually assesses risks to national energy security, including from industrial action, as reflected in the National Risk Register. Under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004), critical sectors including energy infrastructure must have in place plans for maintaining key services in the event of significant workplace absences including strikes.
As set out in our Industrial Strategy: Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, we work in strong partnership with unions, industry, and investors to foster a thriving and skilled workforce, safeguard energy security, and maintaining investor confidence in the UK’s clean energy future.