Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of imposing financial penalties on network companies that fail to deliver grid connections on schedule.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The regulatory framework for electricity network connections is a matter for the independent regulator, Ofgem. As set out in the Connections Action Plan[1], Ofgem is undertaking a full review of existing incentives and obligations on parties, including network companies, relating to connections to ensure they are fit for purpose. This will include consideration of the use of financial incentives and penalties, as well as other regulatory levers. Ofgem will report its findings by the end of June.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is taking steps to improve energy network resilience by investigating the potential of radio spectrum access for energy networks.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Veterans)
Ofcom published a consultation on possible spectrum for the energy and water utilities in June, identifying 5 bands for the potential use by the energy sector (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/potential-spectrum-bands-to-support-utilities). We will be working with Ofcom to take forward the outcomes from this consultation.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with refence to the Second National Infrastructure Assessment, published by the National Infrastructure Commission in October 2023, whether her Department is co-ordinating with the Department [WHICH?] on efforts to enable radio spectrum access for energy networks.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Veterans)
Officials at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are currently discussing the recommendations from the NIC report with several Government departments and public bodies while we assess the future need for telecommunications for the energy industry.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to households of curtailing wind generation due to a lack of grid capacity.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The National Grid Electricity System Operator is responsible for managing constraints and annual network constraint costs for 2022 were £2.0bn (2023 prices). Constraints are a natural part of operating an efficient electricity system, and balancing the network by curtailing wind and turning up alternative generation can be an efficient way to manage these.
Necessary grid infrastructure improvements are being made to manage the level of constraints on the system and ensure the UK's homes can be powered by clean, green energy in future.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate her Department has made of the additional costs to consumers associated with uneven Transmission Network Use of System charges increasing the administrative strike price for renewables contracts.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government acknowledges the uncertainty that renewable developers face in pricing in the cost of future transmission charges (TNUoS), and that this presents particular challenges for transmission-connected projects in more expensive TNUoS zones which primarily impact wind technologies. Whilst network charges are a matter for Ofgem, the Department has considered implications for the upcoming sixth Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round and has taken into account the risk of higher TNUoS charges for certain wind technologies. The Department continually assesses implications of charging arrangements on future CfD rounds beyond Allocation Round 6.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of fuel poverty since 2018.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Fuel Poverty is a devolved matter and the Department has responsibility for England.
The share of households in fuel poverty in England has reduced from 22% in 2010 to 13% in 2023, with energy efficiency being the key driver.
Other support includes the Warm Home Discount scheme which provides low-income and vulnerable households with a £150 rebate off their winter energy bill, which it is estimated took 248,000 English households out of fuel poverty in 2023.
The department is currently reviewing the 2021 fuel poverty strategy and is engaging with key stakeholders as part of this process.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many renewable energy projects are awaiting a decision on their application to connect to the national grid as of 28 February 2024.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The latest data from the Electricity System Operator, from 31 January 2024, reports that there were 40 renewable energy projects awaiting transmission connection offers.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate her Department has made of the potential GDP value to the economy of reaching the 50GW offshore wind capacity target.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Veterans)
The Department has not estimated the potential GDP value to the economy of reaching the 50GW ambition. The Offshore Wind Industry Council estimates in their Skills Intelligence Report, published June 2023, that with our world leading 50GW ambition, the offshore wind sector is expected to grow to support over 100,000 jobs by 2030. This will require over £50 billion in construction capital expenditure.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what capacity of floating offshore wind projects she plans to fund in the next Contracts for Difference auction round.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Veterans)
The Budget Notice for Allocation Round 6 of the Contracts for Difference Scheme is due to be published by 13 March 2024. Decisions about funding any technology are determined by the available pipeline of eligible projects. The Government seeks to set the budget at a level that supports competition and delivers on the deployment and value for money objectives of the scheme.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make it her policy not to carry forward surplus emissions from the Third Carbon Budget into future carbon budgets.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government has overachieved on all its carbon budgets to date. As required under the Climate Change Act, the Government has consulted the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and Devolved Administrations (DAs). The Government will consider the CCC and DAs’ responses and make a decision ahead of the statutory deadline of 31 May 2024.