Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many acres of farmland have had solar panels put on them since July.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The data for solar deployment since July is not yet available; this information is due to be published imminently, as part of the Renewable Energy Planning Database.
The Government does not currently categorise the data based on land type. However, work is underway to expand the database to include this feature.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (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 comparative energy conversion efficiency of onshore and offshore wind turbines.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has internal software tools that it uses to model the performance of a specific wind turbine located in a defined location since the comparative energy conversion efficiency depends on the turbine design and the available wind resource rather than if a turbine is used offshore or onshore. The maximum energy conversion efficiency is theoretically 59.26% (The Betz Limit), but practical turbines have efficiency factors around the 40% range.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project status is not used by the developers of solar farms as a way of bypassing local planning scrutiny and avoiding accountability to the local community.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) recently consulted on Operational reforms to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consenting process. As part of their response DLUHC has introduced secondary legislation and new guidance that provide greater clarity for applicants on whom to consult and when. This came into force on 8 March. These reforms will ensure the system should incentivise early, meaningful engagement between parties as applications for projects are developed.
The established consultation procedures with Interested Parties that are undertaken during the development consent Examination by the Planning Inspectorate, or by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero following receipt of the Examination report will continue to be delivered. On 15 May, my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State made a Written Ministerial Statement reinforcing the importance of applicants following the expectations on siting solar developments set out in the Renewable Energy National Policy Statement. Applications will not be consented if they have not met the requirements, and that includes community engagement as required by the Planning Act. Planning Inspectorate guidance on the pre-application stage was updated on 30 April this year and can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/planning-act-2008-pre-application-stage-for-nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects (also attached).
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to support hospices with energy costs after the Energy Bill Relief Scheme comes to an end in March; and what conversations, if any, they have had with Hospice UK about rising energy costs.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Discussions have taken place with a number of charities and businesses regarding increased energy costs, and the Government is aware of the impact this is having on the hospice sector. The Government will continue to provide support through the recently announced Energy Bill Discount Scheme, which will run from April until March 2024, and continue to provide a discount to eligible non-domestic customers, including the hospice sector.