Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government about the decarbonisation of the waste sector in Wales, following the decision to expand the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to include Energy from Waste facilities from 2028.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
The expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to Energy from Waste facilities will provide an incentive for the development and uptake of decarbonisation technologies and practices to reduce emissions. The UK ETS Authority (which includes the UK Government and the Welsh Government) will ensure that the expansion will complement existing and upcoming waste and environmental policies. While waste policy is generally devolved, the UK Government, Welsh Government and other Devolved Governments, have committed to plan collectively for implementation of the ETS in this sector. The UK Government holds regular discussions with the Welsh Government as part of this.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (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 role of Waste to Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (WECCS) projects in Wales to contribute to the UK’s Seventh Carbon Budget by (1) decarbonising residual waste, and (2) generating net Greenhouse Gas Removals to support other hard to abate sectors.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is currently the only net zero compliant technology for many types of plants in the residual waste management sector.
Energy from Waste with CCS projects have the potential to deliver Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) by capturing biogenic carbon dioxide contained within waste streams.
The Government recognises the potential role that Energy from Waste with CCS projects, including those in Wales, could play in supporting delivery of future carbon budgets. The Carbon Budget Delivery Growth Plan set out projected emissions savings of 0.7Mtpa by 2030, increasing to 21.8Mtpa by 2035, but did not break this down by technology. Modelling is reviewed as evidence emerges.
A range of decarbonisation and greenhouse gas removals technologies will be needed to support delivery of Carbon Budget 7 and the UK's net zero target.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how their carbon capture policy will maximise opportunities for Wales; and what assessment they have made of how facilities like Parc Adfer can (1) support cost effective decarbonisation, (2) optimise the HyNet network, and (3) ensure successful delivery of the HyNet cluster.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
The Government supports deployment of CCUS across the UK, including in Wales. The Heidelberg Materials North-Wales Padeswood project is in construction and currently expected to capture up to 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually once operational.
The HyNet Cluster Review Point (CRP) is underway and is considering projects from the August 2025 Project Negotiation List. The Government retains flexibility to move projects between classifications and is undertaking a holistic assessment against a range of factors, including affordability, value for money, maturity, deliverability, strategic contribution, and network capacity.
We will communicate outcomes and further CRP guidance to projects as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of available network capacity for HyNet expansion as part of their ongoing project review; and how the findings of any such assessment could benefit Wales.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
The Government supports deployment of CCUS across the UK, including in Wales. The Heidelberg Materials North-Wales Padeswood project is in construction and currently expected to capture up to 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually once operational.
The HyNet Cluster Review Point (CRP) is underway and is considering projects from the August 2025 Project Negotiation List. The Government retains flexibility to move projects between classifications and is undertaking a holistic assessment against a range of factors, including affordability, value for money, maturity, deliverability, strategic contribution, and network capacity.
We will communicate outcomes and further CRP guidance to projects as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what process is in place to redesignate ‘Standby’ HyNet projects to ‘Priority’ following the publication of the HyNet expansion: project negotiation list in August 2025.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
The Government supports deployment of CCUS across the UK, including in Wales. The Heidelberg Materials North-Wales Padeswood project is in construction and currently expected to capture up to 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually once operational.
The HyNet Cluster Review Point (CRP) is underway and is considering projects from the August 2025 Project Negotiation List. The Government retains flexibility to move projects between classifications and is undertaking a holistic assessment against a range of factors, including affordability, value for money, maturity, deliverability, strategic contribution, and network capacity.
We will communicate outcomes and further CRP guidance to projects as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (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 Waste to Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (WECCS) projects to minimise the need for government support through the generation of Greenhouse Gas Removals.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
The Government recognises that Waste to Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage projects have the potential to generate revenues from Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs), reducing the level of government support required.
Energy from Waste projects can be supported by government through the Waste Industrial Carbon Capture Business Model, which accounts for potential revenue from Greenhouse Gas Removals generated by capturing the biogenic CO₂ from their waste feedstock.
If a supported project generates GGRs, 90% of the value of the credits sold is deducted from the subsidy payments to the project. This structure ensures that these revenues reduce the level of government support provided.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to put revenue support mechanisms in place to support the development of advanced modular reactors.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is providing a pathway for privately-led advanced nuclear projects. Great British Energy - Nuclear has been tasked with assessing proposals within a new framework, to be published shortly, with the National Wealth Fund exploring potential investment opportunities and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero exploring revenue support for viable projects.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government why they have decided to dispose of 140 tonnes of civil plutonium stored at Sellafield instead of repurposing it for new energy generation.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer my noble Friend to the answer given by my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 8th May 2025 to Question HL6800.
The Government took the decision to immobilise the UK’s civil separated plutonium inventory based on strategic, economic, technical and safety and security considerations. Immobilisation will put the material into a form which both reduces the long-term safety and security burden during storage and ensures it is suitable for disposal in a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF). Implementing a long-term solution for plutonium is essential to dealing with the UK’s nuclear legacy and leaving the environment safer for future generations. Furthermore, all current and planned UK reactors use uranium-based fuels.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to fund advanced nuclear technologies through the generic design assessment process.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The costs of nuclear regulatory services, like Generic Design Assessment, are charged to companies in regulation. The Government part-funded 3 companies to undertake GDA for their Small Modular Reactor designs through the Low-Cost Nuclear Challenge and Future Nuclear Enabling Fund grant schemes. These are Rolls-Royce SMR, GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Holtec Britain Ltd.
Looking forward, the government is providing a pathway for privately-led advanced nuclear projects. Great British Energy - Nuclear has been tasked with assessing proposals within a new framework, to be published shortly, with the National Wealth Fund exploring potential investment opportunities and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero exploring revenue support for viable projects.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of international best practice cases for funding advanced modular reactor development.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government actively monitors advanced nuclear developments in other countries for international best practice that could support the government’s missions.