Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the cost was of operating gas power plants through the Balancing Mechanism in each month since July 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for managing network constraints, including through the Balancing Mechanism.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the estimated cost was of curtailment payments to wind generators in each month since July 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for managing network constraints and publishes daily constraint costs here: Constraint Breakdown Costs and Volume | National Energy System Operator. Data are not available on the split of costs between different types of generators.
As set out in our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, Government is working to accelerate the build of electricity network infrastructure to increase capacity, reduce constraints and enable a cheaper and secure energy system for Britain.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the estimated cost of energy imports was in each month since July 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department does not hold data on monthly energy import costs. Annual energy import costs up to 2023 are published in table G.2 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics. Monthly import data are published by HMRC in the Overseas Trade Data tables.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of future heat pump uptake in each year to 2035.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Heat pump uptake is growing rapidly: in the year to September 2024, 38,305 heat pumps installed in the UK were supported by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero schemes, a 46% increase over the preceding 12 months.
The Government is taking steps to maintain this growth through delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including a near doubling of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme budget to £295 million in 2025/26. Further details of our plan for building uptake over the coming years will be set out in detail in due course as part of the full Warm Homes Plan strategy.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is planning to take to ensure that Great British Energy will work in collaboration with (a) the National Wealth Fund and (b) Great British Nuclear.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Initially, while it is established, we expect Great British Energy’s (GBE) investment activity to be undertaken by the National Wealth Fund (NWF). This will enable GBE to invest quickly and draw on the NWF's experience and pipeline of projects. As GBE scales up, we will set out how the two institutions will collaborate and complement each other.
Great British Nuclear (GBN) will remain an independent sister company to GBE. The Government is considering how GBE and GBN can work best together to ensure that the UK achieves energy security and clean power whilst securing thousands of skilled jobs.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) invest in nuclear fusion and (b) expand the use of small modular nuclear reactors.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
At the Autumn Budget the Government announced significant support in 2025-26 for UK fusion energy research, to build on the UK’s position as a global leader in fusion energy. On small modular reactors (SMRs), the government welcomes the opportunity for SMRs to play a wider role in Britain’s clean energy future. In addition to the SMR competition being delivered by Great British Nuclear, the government is considering responses on new uses of nuclear energy as part of the Alternative Routes to Market consultation for Advanced Nuclear Technologies and will publish a factual response in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
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 construct grid connections for Sizewell C.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The policy position outlined in the National Energy System Operator (“NESO”) open letter [https://www.neso.energy/document/349496/download] (published 10th December 2024) indicates that, given Sizewell C received planning consent in July 2022, the existing arrangements for Sizewell C grid connection should be eligible to be grandfathered, subject to NESO’s proposals for reforming the connections process being approved by Ofgem and taking effect.
National Grid Electricity Transmission has also confirmed that Sizewell C will retain the same enabling works identified in previous connection agreements (2007-2009).
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to extend the operation of existing nuclear power plants beyond 2030.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
EDF have recently announced extensions to the Advance Gas-cooled Reactor nuclear power stations. Heysham 1 and Hartlepool are now expected to operate until March 2027 and Heysham 2 and Torness are now expected to operate until March 2030. Sizewell B is currently scheduled to operate until 2035.
The Government is not involved in the decision-making process to extend the operating lifetime of nuclear power stations. The recent decisions to extend the Advance Gas-cooled Reactor fleet have been taken by EDF based on safety and commercial assessments.
As set out in our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, nuclear will continue to play a key role in the energy system out to 2030 and beyond with the operation of Sizewell B and delivery of Hinkley Point C.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timetable is for announcing Green Industries Growth Accelerator grants.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the need for strong, home-grown clean energy supply chains to support sustainable jobs and secure growth as we decarbonise our economy.
As part of the of next year’s Industrial Strategy, the Government is developing plans, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review, for each of the key growth sectors, which include Clean Energy technologies.
These sector plans will set out how Government and industry intend to achieve long-term growth through bespoke arrangements for each sector.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on the Green Industries Growth Accelerator programme.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the need for strong, home-grown clean energy supply chains to support sustainable jobs and secure growth as we decarbonise our economy.
As part of the of next year’s Industrial Strategy, the Government is developing plans, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review, for each of the key growth sectors, which include Clean Energy technologies.
These sector plans will set out how Government and industry intend to achieve long-term growth through bespoke arrangements for each sector.