Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
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 ensure that nature restoration is integrated alongside clean energy deployment as part of wider environmental and climate resilience objectives.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that restoring nature and tackling climate change are intrinsically linked. We remain committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while also reversing nature loss, supported by existing legislation and policy frameworks.
Through the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, we are delivering clean energy deployment alongside wider environmental objectives, including improved air quality and access to nature.
Moving forward, the Government intends to deliver the second annual statement on the state of climate and nature to Parliament this summer. Like last year's statement, it will provide an honest appraisal of the state of climate and nature in the UK alongside highlighting the action being taken to benefit people now, as well as future generations.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of introducing Contracts for Difference for heat networks on consumers.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We welcome the proposal from the Heat Network Industry Council and we are assessing it in detail.
Heat networks are a key component of the Government’s strategy to deliver secure, affordable and low‑carbon heat, as set out in the Warm Homes Plan.
They enable the efficient distribution of heat from a central source to multiple buildings, and are particularly well suited to densely populated urban areas and locations with access to large-scale, low‑carbon or waste heat sources.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a cap and floor design to repower renewable energy generation projects post-contract.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government amended the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme from Allocation Round 7 (AR7) to enable the repowering of onshore wind projects, following consultation and stakeholder engagement. Repowered onshore wind projects are now eligible to compete for CfD support.
The Government will keep under review the potential extension of repowering arrangements to other renewable technologies, such as offshore wind, in future allocation rounds.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of Germany's Contracts for Difference scheme for industry to electrify and decarbonise effectively.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
UK and German officials regularly engage to exchange best practices and lessons learnt on industrial decarbonisation, including on issues such as auction design and support schemes, notably through the UK-Germany Climate and Energy partnership, as well as through multilateral fora including the Climate Club, the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative, and the Breakthrough Agenda.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Renewable Obligations contracts ending on job losses.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Accreditation under the Renewables Obligation (RO) was always intended to be time limited and generators have known, from the date they were accredited, how long their support would last.
The Government will continue to monitor the potential impacts of the closure of the scheme on different technologies.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many hours over the past year has gas generation been online and setting the wholesale price, used not meet power demand but to meet system inertia requirements.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Generation activated to meet the system’s inertia requirements does not set the wholesale price.
NESO meets system inertia requirements through procuring in the balancing and ancillary service markets, rather than the wholesale market. The wholesale market operates on the principle of marginal pricing, where the most expensive technology required to meet demand sets the price. However, the balancing market operates on a “pay as bid” model, where generators are paid based on the price they bid into the market, rather than the marginal price.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what measures he plans to introduce to help residents of housing estates with central, metered LPG tanks.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has taken action and announced £53 million for low-income families, who heat their homes with oil, or other alternative fuels like LPG, to help tackle surging prices through the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).
It is at the local authority’s discretion to determine appropriate support by taking a person-centred, needs-based approach. Guidance to LAs is clear that crisis payments can be provided to support energy for any form of fuel that is used for the purpose of domestic heating, cooking or lighting, including oil or portable gas cylinders.
The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for the CRF in England and more information on the fund can be found here: Crisis and Resilience Fund (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029) - GOV.UK.
In addition, the Government intends to introduce new consumer protections for LPG customers and is rapidly exploring new ways to step in and ensure households are better protected.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 99556 on Electricity: Prices, what progress he has made on the reformed national pricing delivery plan; and what his timeline is for publishing that plan.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Reformed National Pricing Delivery Plan is a key part of our vision for the future GB electricity system. We published the delivery plan today.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made any assessment of the potential merits of leveraging private investment in the gas-to-heat-pump transition by underwriting a net saving to the consumer.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Our ambition is to ensure that clean heat is the most attractive and natural option for people when upgrading or replacing their heating system. That means driving down upfront costs, helping with financing and grants, and ensuring everyone can reap the financial benefits with cheaper electricity and smart tariffs.
The recent Budget took unprecedented steps to drive down electricity costs for all households, while those with electric heating stand to benefit most.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential benefit of encouraging the use of (a) smart energy tariffs and (b) consumer-led flexibility to lower bills for households and businesses.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Consumer Led Flexibility (CLF) can play a key role in lowering household and business electricity bills. CLF, including that facilitated through the uptake of smart tariffs, gives those who choose to participate greater control over their energy usage, and the opportunity to save money.
The Clean Flexibility Roadmap includes a chapter on CLF with 42 actions to support it which are being delivered. It also set out on pages 8-9 typical electricity bill savings for those participating in it based on prices current at the time.