Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans (1) to accelerate the uptake of heat pump installations and support jobs and skills in this sector, and (2) to increase the availability of a new generation of higher temperature heat pumps using new refrigerants, including R290, or propane.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In October, the Government increased the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for heat pumps to £7,500. In the first full month after the uplift, we saw double the number of vouchers redeemed compared to those redeemed prior to the uplift. Government is also supporting skills in the sector through the £5m Heat Training Grant which launched in July 2023.
Government has funded innovation in new technologies, like higher temperature heat pumps that use alternative refrigerants, through the Net Zero Innovation Programme and such technologies are eligible for support under various Government grant schemes, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many onshore wind projects consisting of individual turbines were completed in 2023; and what steps they are taking to increase the number of new onshore wind farms.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government does not routinely collect information on the number of turbines that make up onshore wind farms, with the exception of larger projects tracked by the Renewable Energy Planning Database. Nevertheless, Government sees onshore wind of all sizes as an important part of the energy mix and supports large-scale onshore wind farms through the Contracts for Difference Scheme and small-scale onshore wind farms through the Smart Export Guarantee.