Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of heat pump installers; and what measures they are taking to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of them to meet the targets contained in the Government's heat pump strategy.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is working closely with industry to ensure that sufficient installers are available to install heat pumps. The Heat Pump Association (HPA) estimate that as of 2023, the heat pump installer workforce is made up of between 4,000 and 10,000 trained and active installers. Nearly 8,000 individuals completed training in 2023, so we are well in line with current workforce training needs.
To meet future demand, the Government is supporting trainees in England taking training relevant to heat pumps and heat networks under the £5 million Heat Training Grant. Industry is also investing in upskilling the existing workforce. Octopus Energy has invested £10 million in a new training centre in Slough, Ideal Heating have announced a multi-million-pound training centre in Bridgehead near Hull, and Aira is investing £300m in the UK heat pump market, including setting up training academies.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the amount of electrical power that will be required to decarbonise UK industry, and (2) where that power will be required in the UK.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Analysis carried out for the Electricity Networks Strategic Framework found that industrial electricity demand in 2050 could range between 85 and 115 Terawatt hours depending on resource and energy efficiency, and fuel switching choices between electricity and hydrogen. This range builds on the two scenarios presented in the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy, Annex 4.
This analysis will evolve over time and continues to be used to inform networks policy, including future regional industrial demand for electricity.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the additional electricity generation that will be required by (1) 2030, (2) 2040, and (3) 2050, to enable the introduction of sufficient electric logistics vehicles to meet the target of net zero by 2050.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The EV Smart Action Plan published earlier this year, estimated that the electrification of cars, vans and HGVs could add 50 – 70 TWh by 2035 and 90 – 140 TWh by 2050 to electricity generation. The Department has not estimated the additional electricity generation or network capacity required specifically from electric logistics vehicles.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 23 May (HL8071), what assessment they have made of the impact of the planning system on the introduction of depot charging facilities at logistics sites.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government committed to the publication of a Call for Evidence in the Future of Freight Strategy to better understand the role the planning system has in supporting the needs of the freight and logistics industry. This document is due for publication in the coming weeks and welcomes representations from all stakeholders to provide evidence to enable the Government to fully consider how depot charging facilities at logistics sites can be delivered in the most expeditious way.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 23 May (HL8071), when they will publish a plan for reducing energy connection timescales for logistics sites.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is working with Ofgem and network companies to release network capacity and improve the connections process, which will reduce connection timescales for all types of connections, including logistics sites. Building on this work, the Government and Ofgem will publish a connections action plan in the summer.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of proposed changes to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol on the usage of biomethane by logistics operators.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Department is aware of the proposed changes to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and departmental officials are monitoring this issue closely.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of (1) the cost of installing energy connections, and (2) the time taken to install energy connections, on the introduction of depot charging facilities at logistics sites.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Ofgem has decided that electricity demand customers, such as depot charging facilities at logistics sites, submitting a connection application after 1 April 2023, will no longer be charged for any distribution network reinforcement costs to accommodate their connection. Additionally, the Government is working with Ofgem and network companies to release network capacity and improve the connections process, which will reduce connection timescales, including potentially for depot charging facilities. The Government will publish a connections action plan in the summer.