Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has his department made of the potential merits of injecting landfill gas biomethane directly into the grid rather than burning it for electricity on site, in the context of the situation in the Gulf.

Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Biomethane grid injection would not be suitable for most landfill sites due to the infrastructure required to treat the gas to make it suitable for injection or use as fuel, and to cover the distance from many sites to the gas grid. Most sites are too small to justify the capital investment needed to install this new infrastructure, as gas flows would decline before return on investment. In contrast, the electricity generation infrastructure already exists across these landfill sites.

Although no final decisions have been made, we intend to consult on proposals for transitional support for landfill gas generation shortly, and would welcome responses from those in the biomethane sector.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government plans to support electricity generation from landfill gas at large landfills where the RO accreditation is due to expire in March 2027.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government recognises that landfill gas generation can help to reduce methane emissions, and that the commercial viability of these generators could be affected by the expiry of RO support.

The sector is highly heterogeneous, with sites varying widely in both their cost profiles and the level of methane abatement they deliver.

Generators at larger landfills contribute a larger proportion of methane abatement in the sector, but may be less dependent on subsidy given their greater gas resource and economies of scale.

No decisions on scheme eligibility or levels of support have been taken. DESNZ intend to consult on proposals shortly, and any final decisions will be subject to robust value for money considerations.