Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to provide support for communities that host (a) battery storage facilities and (b) other energy infrastructure.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government believes that communities are providing a service to the country when they host clean energy infrastructure, so there needs to be benefit for them. On 21 May, the Government published a working paper on community benefits and shared ownership of low carbon energy infrastructure and is the process of reviewing responses. We will consider the appropriate technological scope of a mandatory scheme for community benefits, including whether such a scheme should cover grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the (a) potential merits and the (b) feasibility of installing solar panels on government-owned (a) buildings and (b) land.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government strongly supports the installation of solar panels on public sector buildings. These can generate clean power close to demand, and bring down public spending on energy costs. This includes £180 million investment from the UK government and GBE to install rooftop solar panels on schools and hospitals in England, which could see millions invested back into frontline services.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support community energy initiatives in North East Hampshire constituency.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy (GBE) will deliver a step change in investment in local and community energy projects, putting communities at the heart of the energy transition as owners and partners in clean energy projects across the UK.
In 2025/26, we have made £5 million available in grant funding through the GBE Community Fund to support community energy groups in helping communities develop their own clean energy projects, delivered through the Greater Southeast Local Net Zero Hub for initiatives in Northeast Hampshire. The latest application round closed on the 7th July.