Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what consideration she has given to piloting solar PV reuse schemes.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This is not something the government has given consideration, although we are aware markets exist for second hand solar PV in the UK and that countries such as Australia are piloting recycling schemes.
Legislation is in place to control the disposal of solar equipment at the end of its life for the collection and recycling of old PV panels with some companies globally and in the UK able to take the materials from the panels to use in different industries.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a recognised second-life certification pathway for solar PV.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This is not something we have made an assessment of, although note it would support the transition to a circular economy.
We note that solar panels are nontoxic, with around 85% of their materials being suitable for recycling.
Legislation is in place to control the disposal of solar equipment at the end of its life for the collection and recycling of old PV panels with some companies globally and in the UK able to take the materials from the panels to use in different industries.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to allow greater flexibility within Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) eligibility where solar installations can demonstrate safety and compliance, even if they fall outside standard Microgeneration Certification Scheme routes.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The eligibility criteria for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) are set out in legislation. These require installations and installers to be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or a scheme accredited as equivalent. The Government has no current plans to review this requirement but will consider all scheme feedback received in the forthcoming SEG review.
Although such certification is required to access the SEG, suppliers remain free to offer export tariffs outside the SEG.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure parity between the Investment Reserve Fund to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme and the British Coal Superannuation Scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is engaging with HM Treasury with a view to agreeing a way forward on the transfer of the reserve to members.
The Government is aiming to reach agreement on an outcome that can be implemented later this year which will benefit scheme members.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
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 impact of the policies set out in his Department's policy paper entitled Powering Up Britain on the Government's net zero targets.
Answered by Grant Shapps
Powering Up Britain sets out the policies that enable our carbon budgets to be met. It demonstrates we are world leaders delivering on both energy security and net zero - two sides of the same coin.