Asked by: Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the UK manufacturing and job-creation potential of scaling up heat-battery production, and (2) the potential for this technology to offer an exportable solution for the global clean-heat market.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Heat batteries are a promising technology that could provide a clean heating solution for homes where other technologies may be less suitable. That is why the Government is taking steps to extend the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to support eligible heat batteries.
The UK is home to several leading heat battery manufacturers, including Tepeo and Sunamp. The Government recognises the potential for growth in heat battery deployment to support UK manufacturing and jobs, as well as to create export opportunities.
Asked by: Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to accelerate climate action across the UK.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government is committed to building a cleaner, healthier economy which will bring benefits for people across the country.
The government recently set the level for the seventh Carbon Budget, securing Parliamentary approval for a level of ~87% emissions reduction on 1990 levels for the period 2038 – 2042, setting a clear basis for the pace of action required to meet net zero by 2050.
In August, we announced ‘Plug-in’ solar panels available in shops and on 29 September the Prime Minister announced Great British Grid (GBG).
Alongside accelerating the transition to clean power, the Government's Warm Homes Plan will support up to five million households to install insulation, solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, helping cut emissions, lower bills and reduce fuel poverty.
Asked by: Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the UK's reliance on international fossil fuels and to achieve clean, cheap, homegrown power.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Over the course of 2025, almost two-thirds of Britain’s electricity generation came from clean power. We have seen over £110 billion in private investment announced into clean energy and consented enough clean energy to power over 20 million homes. In our last auction we secured new offshore wind at a price that is 40% cheaper than building and operating new gas, while unlocking £27 billion in private sector investment and supporting thousands of jobs across the country. By delivering more clean, homegrown power, the less time gas will set the price of electricity. We have already moved from gas setting the price of electricity around 90% of the time in the early 2020s, to around 60% today.
Asked by: Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the expansion of renewable energy generation.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are delivering on our ambitious plan to move our electricity system to clean power that we control – breaking our dependence on imported fossil fuels and protecting everyone from future price spikes. For example, we have lifted the de facto onshore wind ban, launched Great British Energy, published our Solar Roadmap and Clean Flexibility Roadmap, and delivered the most successful renewables auction in history with AR7 adding a record-breaking 8.4 gigawatts of offshore wind. More recently, we announced that ‘plug-in’ solar panels are available in shops, offering households a chance to cut their bills.
Asked by: Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to prioritise heat batteries as a tool to cut the cost of bills.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government recognises that heat batteries can play a role in decarbonising domestic heating, noting their ability to take advantage of time-of-use electricity tariffs through charging at off-peak times. The government has committed to provide grants through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with a value of £2,500, that can support the installation of heat batteries, once appropriate standards have been implemented.
Asked by: Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the system benefits created by heat batteries which shift demand away from peak times.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government recognises that heat batteries can play a role in decarbonising domestic heating, noting their ability to shift demand away from peak times through charging at off-peak times. The government has committed to provide grants through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with a value of £2,500, that can support the installation of heat batteries, once appropriate standards have been implemented.
Officials within DESNZ are in regular contact with the heat battery industry including through trade bodies.
Asked by: Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are having discussions with Ofgem about (1) shifting its regulatory focus from gas to heat, and (2) considering cost recovery for heat networks through its upcoming price control framework.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
Ofgem took on responsibility for regulating heat networks in January, and Ministers have been engaging regularly with Ofgem on how their role will develop.
Under current Ofgem rules, heat networks have a requirement to set fair and transparent prices. Whilst Ofgem have consulted on bench marking proposals in relation to these rules, they do not set the prices heat networks charge and heat networks are not governed by the energy price cap or regulated under Ofgem's network price control framework.
Asked by: Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for the heat network sector to drive economic growth and job creation.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
We set out our long-term strategy for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan, including our target for heat networks to supply 7% of heat demand by 2035, on a path towards meeting a fifth of demand by 2050. We estimate that delivering this ambition will result in 18,000 jobs supported in 2030, and attract £60 billion of investment in the UK by 2050.
Asked by: Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what levels of finance and support are required through schemes such as the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme to bring legacy networks up to the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme standards.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES), which provides grants to heat networks to carry out performance and efficiency improvement works, has the potential to provide some funding to networks for works that will bring them up to HNTAS standards.
We are currently consulting on the implementation of HNTAS, and are actively encouraging the sector to provide cost data through the consultation, so we can strengthen our evidence base on financial support that may be required and ensure the final policy is proportionate and deliverable.
Asked by: Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for the use of strategic heat network zoning to inform a phased and planned approach to gas grid decommissioning or repurposing.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
We set out our long-term strategy for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan, including our target for heat networks to supply 7% of heat demand by 2035, on a path towards meeting a fifth of demand by 2050.
This ambition is based on the heat network zoning model, which will use a standardised methodology to identify areas where heat networks are expected to provide the lowest cost, low carbon heat to buildings.
Policies such as strategic heat network zoning will help to inform the design of the future gas system, including any repurposing or decommissioning that takes place.