Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to provide adequate funding for the warm homes local grant.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
£500 million has been allocated as part of the Autumn Budget for the Warm Homes: Local Grant to be delivered from 2025 to 2028 by eligible local authorities in England. Allocations of this funding to local authorities that expressed an interest in participating in delivering the scheme were announced on 11th March. Details are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-homes-local-grant-successful-local-authorities/warm-homes-local-grant-successful-local-authorities
Future funding towards decarbonisation and to tackle fuel poverty will be considered as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will conclude in late Spring 2025.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has plans to review the use of marginal-cost pricing for wholesale electricity.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The second REMA consultation, published in March 2024, considered a range of options related to reform the market. Among other things, the previous government decided to retain marginal pricing across the wholesale market and to proceed with the rapid rollout of renewable generation via a CfD-type scheme. We believe we can achieve this through Clean Power 2030, which represents the best way to decouple gas and electricity prices and enable efficient electricity system operation.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
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 a comparative assessment of (a) gas and (b) biofuels for home heating.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Moving away from our reliance on natural gas for home heating is essential to achieving Net Zero and increasing our energy independence. The Government expects most properties will switch to heat pumps, along with heat networks, but recognises that in homes not connected to the gas grid, renewable liquid heating fuels (RLHF) could play a limited role in decarbonising heat.
However, sustainable biomass is a limited resource, so the Government expects to prioritise its use in sectors which have fewest options to decarbonise. RLHFs are also more expensive to use than other heating solutions. We will keep evidence under review.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to provide support to homes with an EPC rating of D and below in Newton Abbot constituency.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There are various schemes currently delivering home energy efficiency improvements across Great Britain, including Newton Abbot, such as the Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation Scheme. Owner occupier households are eligible if they receive means tested benefits and fall within Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band D-G.
The new Warm Homes: Local Grant will also support low-income homeowners living in privately owned EPC band D-G homes both on and off the gas grid in England, with delivery beginning this year.
The home retrofit tool on GOV.UK, ‘Find ways to save energy in your home’ (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency) allows users to get tailored recommendations for home improvements that could make their property cheaper to heat and keep warm.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
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 a comparative assessment of the potential impact of (a) the Drax power station and (b) coal-fired power stations on UK carbon emissions in the last five years.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) publishes UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics. They can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-statistics-1990-to-2023
DESNZ also publishes carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels reported by industrial sites, including those covered by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion at the Drax site can be found here: https://naei.energysecurity.gov.uk/data/maps/emissions-point-sources, https://reports.view-emissions-trading-registry.service.gov.uk/ets-reports.html
UK reporting is consistent with international guidelines established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which require CO2 emissions from the combustion of biomass to be accounted for in the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector of the country in which the biomass was harvested, rather than at the point of release to the atmosphere.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
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 a comparative assessment of the potential impact of (a) the Drax power station and (b) renewable energy sources on UK carbon emissions in the last five years.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) publishes UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics. They can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-statistics-1990-to-2023
DESNZ also publishes carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels reported by industrial sites, including those covered by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion at the Drax site can be found here: https://naei.energysecurity.gov.uk/data/maps/emissions-point-sources, https://reports.view-emissions-trading-registry.service.gov.uk/ets-reports.html
UK reporting is consistent with international guidelines established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which require CO2 emissions from the combustion of biomass to be accounted for in the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector of the country in which the biomass was harvested, rather than at the point of release to the atmosphere.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help mitigate the potential impact of spray foam insulation previously deemed fit for purpose but later surveyed as inadequate.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Any measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified. Consumers are entitled to repair work by the original installer or, failing that, they can use their guarantee provided on installation. TrustMark can support them through this process.
The Government recognises that the consumer protection system that we inherited needs reform, we will press ahead with a sweeping overhaul through the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help support (a) elderly and (b) other vulnerable people with heating costs in winter 2024-25.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The impact of the energy crisis is still being felt by people across the country, and the Government and energy suppliers are working together to help vulnerable households this winter. In November, Energy UK, in collaboration with the Government, published a Winter 2024 Commitment which promises £500 million of industry support to billpayers this winter. It also outlines how 15 energy suppliers representing almost the entire market will continue to provide a range of financial support tailored to the needs of their customers.
In the short-term, the Government continues to deliver the Warm Home Discount which provides an annual £150 rebate off energy bills for eligible low-income households. We expect around 3 million households to receive this support this winter.
The Government has also extended the Household Support Fund in England by a further year until 31 March 2026 with an extra £742 million in support, with additional funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help increase storage levels of gas.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
National Gas has confirmed on 10 January that “the overall picture across Great Britain’s eight main gas storage sites remains healthy - with average levels at just over 60% across the board." We have diverse sources of gas supply, including from the North Sea, as well as the second largest LNG import capacity in Europe and three gas interconnectors. Only a small proportion of GB gas supply comes from our eight storage facilities, which primarily act as source of system flexibility, with capacity fluctuating throughout the year.