Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what impact a presumption against issuing any further Hydraulic Fracturing Consents on the basis of potential seismic events may have on (a) sourcing geothermal energy, (b) exploration for lithium and other minerals and (c) other planning consents that may result in seismic activity.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Infrastructure Act 2015 set out provisions for ‘associated hydraulic fracturing’ where it is defined as hydraulic fracturing of shale or strata encased in shale for the purposes of searching for or extracting petroleum or natural gas. The presumption against issuing any further Hydraulic Fracturing Consents on the basis of potential seismic events should therefore have no impact on sourcing geothermal energy or the exploration for lithium and other minerals.
The control and mitigation of induced seismicity for deep geothermal projects is based on the British Standard BS 6472-2 (BSI, 2008), which defines limits for acceptable levels of ground vibrations caused by blasting and quarrying, and other local planning authority guidelines for blasting, quarrying, and mining. These thresholds are defined in terms of measured ground velocity rather than seismicity.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what impact a presumption against issuing any further Hydraulic Fracturing Consents on the basis of potential seismic events may have on (a) sourcing geothermal energy and (b) exploration for lithium and other minerals.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Infrastructure Act 2015 set out provisions for ‘associated hydraulic fracturing’ where it is defined as hydraulic fracturing of shale or strata encased in shale for the purposes of searching for or extracting petroleum or natural gas. The presumption against issuing any further Hydraulic Fracturing Consents on the basis of potential seismic events should therefore have no impact on sourcing geothermal energy or the exploration for lithium and other minerals.
The control and mitigation of induced seismicity for deep geothermal projects is based on the British Standard BS 6472-2 (BSI, 2008), which defines limits for acceptable levels of ground vibrations caused by blasting and quarrying, and other local planning authority guidelines for blasting, quarrying, and mining. These thresholds are defined in terms of measured ground velocity rather than seismicity.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment (a) of the potential effect of Ofgem's Access and Forward-looking Charges Significant Code Review on the timetable for investment in renewable generation in the North West as a result of the creation of uncertainty in charging for connections over 1MW and (b) of the potential for that review to be frustrated in its objectives by key pinch points on the National Grid.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Ofgem has recently consulted on three areas of reform through its Access and Forward-looking Charges Review. First, it is proposing to reduce or remove the contribution to distribution network reinforcement costs paid by connecting customers. This would support the roll-out of low carbon technologies, including by further incentivising network companies to ensure that new connections can be accommodated on the network. Second, Ofgem is proposing to improve the definition and choice of rights that users have to access the distribution network, with the aim of supporting more efficient use and development of network capacity. Third, Ofgem is minded to remove a difference in charging arrangements between large and small generators, by extending transmission charges to small distributed generation.
Ofgem has published a draft impact assessment to support its proposals, which includes consideration of implications for investment decisions and constraint management. It is available at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/access-and-forward-looking-charges-significant-code-review-consultation-minded-positions. My Department is continuing to engage as Ofgem progresses the review, to understand how any decisions can help support delivery of a secure, net zero energy system at lowest cost to consumers.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of Ofgem's Access and Forward-looking Charges Significant Code Review.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Ofgem has recently consulted on three areas of reform through its Access and Forward-looking Charges Review. First, it is proposing to reduce or remove the contribution to distribution network reinforcement costs paid by connecting customers. This would support the roll-out of low carbon technologies, including by further incentivising network companies to ensure that new connections can be accommodated on the network. Second, Ofgem is proposing to improve the definition and choice of rights that users have to access the distribution network, with the aim of supporting more efficient use and development of network capacity. Third, Ofgem is minded to remove a difference in charging arrangements between large and small generators, by extending transmission charges to small distributed generation.
Ofgem has published a draft impact assessment to support its proposals, which includes consideration of implications for investment decisions and constraint management. It is available at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/access-and-forward-looking-charges-significant-code-review-consultation-minded-positions. My Department is continuing to engage as Ofgem progresses the review, to understand how any decisions can help support delivery of a secure, net zero energy system at lowest cost to consumers.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the energy retail market; what steps his Department has taken to ensure the protection of existing customers whose suppliers fail; and what steps he is taking to reform that market.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government previously committed to assess potential preform of the retail energy market as we transition to net zero. The Net Zero Strategy is clear that the energy retail market must be sustainable and resilient and protect consumers in the transition to net zero. The Government will work with Ofgem to identify the reforms needed to build a resilient market
The Government and Ofgem ensure the customers of companies who exit the market have their credit balances protected and continuity of supply – through a Supplier of Last Resort process.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the recent Nuclear Decommissioning Authority departmental review, what his plans are for the creation of a development agency for new nuclear build.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to new nuclear after Hinkley Point C and is focused on bringing at least one more large-scale project to a Final Investment Decision this parliament, as well as progressing work on advanced nuclear technologies like Small Modular Reactors. Separately, the Departmental Review of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, published in June 2021, makes recommendations for improvements to the form, function and governance of the organisation in relation to its mission under the Energy Act 2004.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the (a) level of abatement of emissions from UK steelmaking by 2050, and (b) proportion of expected abatement mechanisms from (i) the use of hydrogen, (ii) fuel switching, (iii) alternative sources of carbon and (iv) carbon capture and storage.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy use emission projections[1] for different sectors of the economy including for Iron and Steel out to 2040 (see Annex C: Carbon dioxide emissions by IPCC). The emission projections show the Iron and Steel sector has carbon emissions of 9 Mt CO2e by 2040.
The Department has published an Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy[2] which presents two options for decarbonisation of the Iron and Steel Industry by 2050:
i) The first option shows the abatement potential of carbon capture utilisation and storage (abatement of 6.7 Mt CO2e);
ii) A second option of fuel switching to hydrogen and electric arc furnace. The second solution suggests hydrogen fuel switching of 3.9 MtCO2e and 3.5 MtCO2e of electric fuel switching by 2050.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/energy-and-emissions-projections
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-decarbonisation-strategy
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of UK steel production, per annum until 2050.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Some assumptions about future steel production are embedded in the department’s energy and emissions projections. However, these do not take future world and domestic market conditions facing UK steel producers into account.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of (a) UK steel requirements per annum to 2050 and (b) the expected country of origin of that steel expressed as a percentage in each year to 2050.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Department commissioned the ‘Future capacities and capabilities of the UK steel industry’ study [2017] which provided an estimated UK steel demand in 2030 of around 11 million tonnes.