Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism with the island of Ireland's Single Electricity Market.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK shares the EU’s concerns about the risk of carbon leakage and recognises the EU’s right to take action to address it. The Government plans to apply the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) across the whole UK, including in NI. The UK will continue to work with international partners, including the EU, to ensure our approach is implemented in a way that works for businesses.
The EU CBAM could only apply in Northern Ireland with the agreement of the UK and in line with the democratic safeguards of the Windsor Framework.
For goods moving from Northern Ireland into the EU, guidance is a matter for the European Commission and EU Member States. The UK have raised with the EU Commission the need for clarity on the practical implementation of the EU CBAM for trade in electricity, given the challenges involved.
The EU Commission website is the most up to date source of information and guidance.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to link the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Under the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the UK Government and EU agreed to give serious consideration to linking our respective carbon pricing schemes and to cooperate on carbon pricing. As part of our reset with the EU the Government continues to explore all options to improve trade and investment.
The Government will work to reset the relationship with our European partners to strengthen ties that improve our trade and investment relationship with the EU and promote climate, energy, and economic security, while recognising that there will be no return to the single market or customs union.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in relation to (1) training additional heat pump engineers, (2) supporting heat pump manufacturers, and (3) making heat pumps more affordable for consumers, in order to ensure that they meet their target of installing 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has set out a package of policies to help install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028:
On training, the £5 million Heat Training Grant is expected to support 6,000 trainees in England to become heat pump installers.
On manufacturing, the £30 million Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition aims to increase our manufacturing capacity.
On affordability, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers grants of £7,500 for heat pump installations, VAT has been eliminated on heat pump installations until 2027, and the Heat Pump Ready innovation programme supports projects to reduce whole life costs of heat pumps.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide consumers with updated guidance on the benefits of heat pump technology and its suitability for their homes.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In July 2022, the Government launched an online tool on GOV.UK which provides tailored advice to households about whether their home could be suitable for a heat pump, the upfront costs and links to further information.
An improved version of the Tool is in development and due to be launched next year.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government when a decision will be made as to where the Celtic Sea floating offshore wind power line will come ashore and connect to the national electricity transmission grid; who will make that decision; and what mechanism will be used to decide on that location.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
National Grid Electricity Systems Operator (ESO) is currently developing the Holistic Network Design (HND) Follow Up Exercise. Working closely with the Crown Estate, the ESO will make recommendations for the grid connections of in-scope offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea.
The Terms of Reference for the HND Follow Up Exercise, published on GOV.UK, outline the Network Design Objectives which will inform the recommendations. The recommendations will be finalised in July 2023 and published as part of the Transitional Centralised Strategic Network Plan by the end of the year.
The recommendations will inform connection agreements, including the location of interface points between the on and offshore network. Any infrastructure proposed will be subject to the appropriate planning process.