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Written Question
Shared Ownership: Wind Power
Thursday 19th January 2023

Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to review the shared ownership provisions in the Infrastructure Act 2015 (Section 38, Schedule 6) as required by that Act; and what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of shared ownership and community energy in producing an increase in locally supported onshore wind to achieve net zero and meet the UK’s decarbonisation targets.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government wants to ensure that local communities are able to participate in, and benefit from, onshore wind developments as the UK increases renewable deployment to reach net zero. The Government is aware of the requirement to review the provisions in Section 38 and Schedule 6 of the Infrastructure Act 2015 and will do so as soon as is reasonably practicable. The Government will also consult in Spring 2023 on local partnerships for communities who wish to host new onshore wind infrastructure in return for benefits.


Written Question
Strikes: Fire and Rescue Services and Railways
Wednesday 18th January 2023

Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, whether he has launched the consultation on adequate minimum service levels for fire, ambulance and rail services; which stakeholders he will consult with; and when he plans for that consultation to conclude.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government will consult shortly on minimum service levels for fire, ambulance, and rail services, recognising the severe disruption that the public faces when these services are impacted by strikes, especially the immediate risk to public safety when blue light services are disrupted.


Written Question
Hinkley Point C Power Station: Construction
Monday 16th January 2023

Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent progress has been made on the construction of the Hinkley Connection Project; if he will make an estimate of the completion date for that project; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Hinkley Connection Project is led by National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), the electricity transmission owner in England and Wales. Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator, is responsible for the regulation of network projects. NGET sets the associated allowances, timelines and incentives through the electricity transmission network price control.


Written Question
Sizewell C Power Station
Monday 16th January 2023

Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of whether the transmission grid would be capable of handling the proposed output from Sizewell C power station.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Network companies are responsible for ensuring that there is sufficient network capacity to support generation and demand on the grid. Ofgem, as the independent regulator, is responsible for incentivising them to do so efficiently through the electricity network price control.


Written Question
Hinkley Point C Power Station: Costs
Monday 16th January 2023

Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost of the Hinkley Connection Project.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Hinkley Connection Project is led by National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), the electricity transmission owner in England and Wales. Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator, is responsible for the regulation of network projects. NGET sets the associated allowances, timelines and incentives through the electricity transmission network price control.


Written Question
Natural Gas: Hydrogen
Monday 19th December 2022

Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the role of hydrogen blending in encouraging investment in the hydrogen sector.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government intends to reach a decision in 2023 on whether to allow blending of up to 20% hydrogen (by volume) into gas distribution networks. Blending may help to bring forward investment and support early growth of the hydrogen economy. BEIS recently considered the potential value of blending through a consultation on hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure business models and regulation and is currently reviewing the submitted responses. The Government is working with industry and regulators to assess the associated costs and risks of blending, which will need to be carefully managed if permitted.


Written Question
Hydrogen: Production
Thursday 15th December 2022

Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to help increase the production of low-carbon hydrogen in the UK.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has doubled its ambition to up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, subject to affordability and value for money.

The UK's increased ambition will drive significant private sector investment, delivered by a strong investable proposition through the Hydrogen Production Business Model, which will help to address the key barrier to deployment, the cost gap compared to fossil fuels. The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund will also provide up to £240 million to 2025 to support the development and construction of new low carbon hydrogen production plants.


Written Question
Hydrogen: Production
Thursday 15th December 2022

Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the potential economic benefits of increasing the UK’s production of low-carbon hydrogen.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK’s hydrogen ambition – up to 10GW of production capacity by 2030 – offers significant economic opportunities across the country. Government analysis suggests the sector could be worth over £900m and support 12,000 jobs by 2030, unlocking over £9bn in private investment in production alone.


Written Question
Hydrogen: Production
Thursday 15th December 2022

Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to help ensure that the low-carbon hydrogen production pipeline develops outside of the UK’s industrial clusters.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is aware of a potential pipeline of almost 20GW of projects across the UK in every corner of the Union. The Government launched the first joint Hydrogen Production Business Model and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund allocation round to support electrolytic projects across the UK this year, with the aim to award contracts in 2023. Transport and storage (T&S) will also be essential to grow the hydrogen economy, including outside of industrial clusters. Government will publish a response to its consultation on T&S business models next year.


Written Question
Hydrogen
Thursday 15th December 2022

Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential overall electricity transmission grid balancing benefits of hydrogen.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government views hydrogen as an important component of our future power system to provide low carbon flexibility as we integrate more intermittent renewables. Excess renewable electricity can be used to produce hydrogen, using electrolysers, which can be stored over time and used flexibly to generate power when there is less sun or wind to power the grid.

As set out in the British Energy Security Strategy, the Government is committed to ensuring consideration is given in our hydrogen production policies to the siting of hydrogen electrolysers to best use surplus low carbon electricity and to reduce electricity network constraints.