Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with Scottish Ministers regarding additional emissions-reduction measures that may be required under the ZEV mandate review options, including their estimated costs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with her counterparts in the Scottish Government on a range of matters relevant to her portfolio. The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate is devolved policy, so we are working closely with the devolved governments throughout the review process, and the review consultation was undertaken jointly by the UK government and devolved governments. The consultation closed on 23 October and responses, including evidence on the impacts of different options, are now being assessed.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
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 on whether and the extent to which transmission-connected generators have experienced unexpected financial gains or losses as a result of changes to Transmission Network Use of System charges compared with the assumptions that they reasonably would have expected at the time of the relevant Government allocation round and/or their Final Investment Decision.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has not undertaken a general ex post assessment of the TNUoS assumptions that private companies utilised when developing their own commercial business cases, and whether these had upward or downward pressure on their financial returns.
The Government is committed to reforms that deliver greater predictability and stability for transmission charges, and will support Ofgem to work with industry to reduce year-to-year volatility and improve forward visibility for investors.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
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 report entitled "No Home Left Behind", what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using heat batteries to reduce noise pollution in dense urban areas where heat pump noise can block installation.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Decarbonising heating in Scotland is largely devolved, allowing the Scottish Government to set its own policies and support schemes, such as the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme.
Industry has taken significant strides to reduce noise emissions from heat pumps. The department commissioned independent research, published in 2023, which found that noise complaints from air source heat pumps are rare and that their sound emissions are perceived as being very quiet.
For the small number of properties for which heat pumps or heat networks may not be suitable, heat batteries may play a role in decarbonising domestic heating.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
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 report entitled "No Home Left Behind", whether she plans to promote heat batteries in rural off-gas homes.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Decarbonising heating in Scotland is largely devolved, allowing the Scottish Government to set its own policies and support schemes. Scottish households can access support through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme.
Heat pumps, alongside heat networks, will be the primary low-carbon technologies for decarbonising home heating.
However, the UK government recognises there are a small number of properties for which these technologies may not be suitable, and that heat batteries can play a role in decarbonising domestic heating, including in rural off-gas homes.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
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 potential impact of policy costs and levies on the electricity bills and competitiveness of businesses in Scotland.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the pressure high electricity costs place on businesses. Eligible energy-intensive businesses in Scotland can benefit from the British Industry Supercharger, which provides relief from certain electricity policy costs and network charges. The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will also support over 10,000 businesses across Great Britain, reducing electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour—an average discount of around 25%. We are working closely with the Department for Business, Industry, Science and Trade to explore further options to reduce non-domestic electricity costs. In the longer term, delivering clean power will strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what action the Government will take to support businesses in Scotland facing rising non-commodity costs on their energy bills.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the pressure high electricity costs place on businesses. Eligible energy-intensive businesses in Scotland can benefit from the British Industry Supercharger, which provides relief from certain electricity policy costs and network charges. The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will also support over 10,000 businesses across Great Britain, reducing electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour—an average discount of around 25%. We are working closely with the Department for Business, Industry, Science and Trade to explore further options to reduce non-domestic electricity costs. In the longer term, delivering clean power will strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
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 recent report entitled "No Home Left Behind", what steps she is taking to ensure heat batteries can access smart, time-of-use tariffs, to enable households to charge when electricity is cheapest.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Decarbonising heating in Scotland is largely devolved, allowing the Scottish Government to set its own policies and support schemes. Scottish households can access support through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme.
Heat pumps, alongside heat networks, will be the primary low-carbon technologies for decarbonising home heating.
However, the UK Government recognises there are a small number of properties for which these technologies may not be suitable, and heat batteries can play a role in decarbonising domestic heating. Heat batteries are able to take advantage of time-of-use electricity tariffs, enabling households to charge when electricity is cheapest.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
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 impact of the rollout of the Local Power Plan on local trading from community energy schemes to homes and businesses.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the important role that community energy can play in supporting local participation in the clean energy transition. Through the Local Power Plan, Government is working with Great British Energy and Ofgem to explore measures that could make it easier for community energy groups to participate in local energy markets.
The Government is monitoring Ofgem’s developments relating to code modification P441, which is intended help community energy groups and other local renewable energy projects identify and understand different routes to selling energy in their local markets.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when clean community energy companies will be able to sell directly to households and businesses through the Local Power Plan.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the important role that community energy can play in supporting local participation in the clean energy transition. Through the Local Power Plan, Government is working with Great British Energy and Ofgem to explore measures that could make it easier for community energy groups to participate in local energy markets.
The Government is monitoring Ofgem’s developments relating to code modification P441, which is intended help community energy groups and other local renewable energy projects identify and understand different routes to selling energy in their local markets.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
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 increased geological hydrogen production in the UK.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ commissioned research from the British Geological Survey to understand the potential for natural hydrogen reserves in the UK. This research was published in 2025 and provides a high level, national scale geological map-based assessment of the UK, identifying areas more and less likely to contain natural hydrogen resources. We are considering further research to build our understanding.
The department is also actively monitoring developments in other countries via our membership of the IEA’s Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programme. Our teams liaise regularly with academics and experts to make sure the government is well-sighted on emerging technologies, evidence and activities in the UK and internationally.