Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing imports of renewable energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 2023, imports via interconnectors provided 10.2% of gross UK electricity supply, highlighting the key role that they already play. Imports via interconnectors can provide access to lower-cost electricity for GB consumers, reduce the need to dispatch higher carbon domestic generation during peak times, and enhance our security of supply. We expect interconnectors to continue to be an important component of our future decarbonised electricity system.
Ofgem are responsible for taking regulatory decisions for new interconnector projects. Their draft analysis for projects being assessed as part of the current regulatory window can be found at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulation/policy-and-regulatory-programmes/interconnectors
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of meeting the 6GW green hydrogen production target by using local electrolysis; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using (a) green hydrogen production from ammonia and (b) other technologies to meet this target.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government supports multiple hydrogen production pathways that meet our Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard and funding eligibility criteria. These are reviewed regularly.
The Energy Act 2023 enables support for hydrogen production via Government funding or a levy. We will provide an update on the funding arrangements for the hydrogen programme in due course. Funding decisions will take into account affordability and value for money.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
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 ensure that rural households that rely on sustainable solid fuels will not experience increases in household bills.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Alternative fuel prices have fallen since winter 2022-23 and while there is no price cap for alternative fuels, households who use solid fuel for heating are still protected by the price cap for their electricity tariff.
The Government is currently providing a package of support worth £108 billion, or £3,800 per household on average between 2022 – 2025, which is one of the largest support packages in Europe. The Government is continuing to support households past April 2024, cutting National Insurance contributions, worth £900 to the average worker, increasing benefits by 6.7%, and increasing the National Living Wage.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on the Track 1 Power Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage selection process.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government launched the power BECCS project submission process on 22nd August 2022. This was for power BECCS projects seeking to join Track-1. The Government will provide an update on the outcome of the power BECCS project submission process in due course.
Deployment of power BECCS will be contingent on the availability of relevant CO2 Transport and Storage infrastructure and an assessment of affordability and value for money before any decision to award business model support.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when the (a) guidance on, (b) timeline for and (c) selection criteria for track 2 of the CCUS Cluster Sequencing Programme will be published.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is committed to supporting four CCUS clusters to deployment by 2030. Track-2 of the Cluster Sequencing Programme will add further clusters to fulfil this commitment and deliver an additional capture and storage capacity of at least 10Mtpa. The Government is continuing to develop the Track-2 process, building on our experience of sequencing the Track-1 clusters. Further details will be set out in the Spring.