Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who are able to apply for Local Power Plans.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The DESNZ/GBE Local Power Plan is designed to engage a wide range of stakeholders and participants including community energy organisations, local authorities as well as investors and lenders. The initial entry route for those seeking support is typically through a Great British Energy Expression of Interest (EOI). This is open to communities and local authorities to submit project ideas for support. This EOI is GBE’s first step toward coordinated engagement on local and community power, to build a shared understanding of what projects are emerging across the country. Great British Energy is developing further schemes, with more information available this year.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what analysis his Department has undertaken of the potential impacts of co-locating WECCS (waste-energy carbon capture and storage) with EfW (energy-from-waste) plants on regional energy systems and grid infrastructure, including any potential to reduce the need for new grid connections.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) is fundamental to the deep decarbonisation of industries such as EfW. CCUS is the only net zero compliant technology for many types of plants in the residual waste management sector.
The residential waste sector also has a high percentage of biogenic CO2, which if captured have the potential to create greenhouse gas removals.
CCUS technology requires energy to power the facility, and therefore the energy balance of an energy-from-waste (EfW) facility is expected to be impacted by the deployment of CCUS. These impacts will vary depending on the facility, notably whether the EfW facility is new or whether CCUS is being retrofitted on an existing site.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to ADE's Electricity System Benefits of Heat Networks research paper, whether he has made an assessment of the value for money of the Department’s target for individual air source heat pumps in urban and semi-urban areas like Leeds.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department’s latest assessment of the value for money of heat pump deployment is outlined in the March 2026 impact assessment of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The scheme is demand-led, and funds installations in urban and semi-urban areas, including Leeds.
Our strategy for upgrading buildings is outlined in the Warm Homes Plan, and our Heat Network Zoning policy is designed to support the development of low carbon heat networks in the optimum right places. This ensures that consumers can benefit from the efficiencies that heat networks bring, as described in ADE’s research, whilst also ensuring that we respond to consumer demand for cleaner heat today.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of technical maturity and commercial readiness of WECCS (waste-energy carbon capture and storage) at EfW (energy-from-waste) sites to deliver verified greenhouse-gas removals at scale.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Carbon capture and storage (CCUS) is fundamental to the deep decarbonisation of industries such as energy-from-waste (EfW). CCUS is the only net zero compliant technology for many types of plants in the residual waste management sector.
The residential waste sector has a high percentage of biogenic CO2, which if captured have the potential to create greenhouse gas removals.
The government has developed a business model to support Waste CCUS projects and stimulate private sector investment. Following the signature of the first Waste ICC contract, the Protos Energy Recovery Facility in Cheshire is set to be the UK’s first CCUS-enabled Energy from Waste facility, generating enough electricity to power 80,000 UK homes securing 500 jobs. This is a first step to delivering carbon removals from the EfW sector, demonstrating the technical readiness of CCUS enabled EfW facilities.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to ADE's Electricity System Benefits of Heat Networks research paper, whether he is taking steps to reform planning arrangements to capture potential £1.2 billion annual savings in avoided generation capacity from the expansion of heat networks.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes Plan sets our strategy for upgrading buildings, including. the case for heat networks to decarbonise heat whilst reducing the cost of upgrading the grid. We estimate that heat network deployment will save £5-7 billion in avoided distribution network costs, even before flexibility is accounted for. ADE’s research adds to our understanding in this area.
Our Heat Network Zoning policy will ensure that heat networks are built where they are the lowest-cost low carbon option, whilst Regional Energy Strategic Plans will ensure a more strategic, joined-up approach to electrification at a distribution level.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government is taking steps to implement the recommendations of the Whitehead Review, including formally recognising WECCS (waste-energy carbon capture and storage) as a greenhouse-gas removal route.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Even with our policies for greater waste prevention, reuse and a significant municipal waste recycling rate, there will still be a need to manage residual waste.
Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities are a better option than landfill or incineration without energy recovery. They will remain a key part of our waste system.
The residential waste sector has a high percentage of biogenic CO2, which if captured have the potential to create greenhouse gas removals.
Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) is essential to cut emissions from waste facilities. It is currently the only net zero compliant technology for many types of plants in the residual waste management system.
The government has welcomed the Independent GGR Review, is considering the recommendations and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
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 potential implications for his policies of the research paper by ADE entitled Electricity System Benefits of Heat Networks, published on 11 January 2025.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes Plan sets our strategy for upgrading buildings, including. the case for heat networks to decarbonise heat whilst reducing the cost of upgrading the grid. We estimate that heat network deployment will save £5-7 billion in avoided distribution network costs, even before flexibility is accounted for. ADE’s research adds to our understanding in this area.
Our Heat Network Zoning policy will ensure that heat networks are built where they are the lowest-cost low carbon option, whilst Regional Energy Strategic Plans will ensure a more strategic, joined-up approach to electrification at a distribution level.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2026 to question 113391 regarding the climate impact of Drax’s burning of wood, how many years it takes for the carbon debt to be paid off by replacement trees.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Biomass feedstocks for power production at Drax utilise waste wood and residues from productive forestry for other wood products. The carbon balance of these depends on forest type and management, amongst other variables, and cannot be attributed to the growth of replacement trees alone. The Government only supports the use of sustainable biomass and operators only receive subsidies for biomass that meets our sustainability criteria. UK sustainability criteria include requirements on sustainable forest management in the sourcing region, which applies to both domestically sourced and imported biomass.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to his Answer of 27 February 2026 to Question 113391 on the role of Drax in the power system, including its private sector clients, how many tonnes of wood were burned by Drax in each of the last five years and how many he expects to burned in each of the next five years.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government does not gather or hold information on fuel used by Drax each year, however this data is published by Drax in the company’s annual ESG report, ESG Performance Report - Drax Global. Fuel use is also monitored and assured as part of the operation of subsidy schemes for large-scale electricity generation. This includes Ofgem, for Drax’s units under the Renewables Obligation, and the Low Carbon Contracts Company, for Drax’s unit currently operating on a Contract for Difference.
Future fuel use at Drax will depend on demand at the station, linked to its new dispatchable operation under the Low Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference from 2027. Drax will play a much more limited role in the system, providing dispatchable power only when the system really needs it. It will be supported to operate at a maximum load factor of 27%, operating less than half as often as it currently does. Accordingly, we anticipate that fuel use will reduce substantially under the new contract running from 2027-2031.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2026 to Question 113391 regarding the impact of Drax’s burning of wood on carbon sequestration, what is his calculation for the number of years it takes for the carbon debt to be paid off by replacement trees.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Biomass feedstocks for power production at Drax utilise waste wood and residues from productive forestry for other wood products. The carbon balance of these depends on forest type and management, amongst other variables, and cannot be attributed to the growth of replacement trees alone. The Government only supports the use of sustainable biomass and operators only receive subsidies for biomass that meets our sustainability criteria. UK sustainability criteria include requirements on sustainable forest management in the sourcing region, which applies to both domestically sourced and imported biomass.