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 the effectiveness of funding for renewable energy projects through the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
An initial budget of £900 million is available for fixed-bottom offshore wind in Allocation Round 7, which is the largest ever initial budget for OFW. The Government has the ability to view unsuccessful bids and adjust the budget later, if it is good value for consumers. The Government has also confirmed budgets of £180m for floating offshore wind projects, £295 million for established technologies such as solar PV and onshore wind, and £15 million for emerging technologies. We expect the budgets and competitive bidding to drive a value for money outcome for billpayers.
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 his timeline is for launching the proposed framework to scrutinise additional costs and levies on consumer energy bills.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
At the budget, the Chancellor agreed to subject any additional costs, including new levies, to enhanced scrutiny under a new framework to ensure they are affordable, represent value for money and do not impose unnecessary costs on households and businesses. The development of this new framework is underway with HM Treasury and we will provide an update in due course.
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 his planned timeline is for rolling out the Connections Accelerator Service.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As set out in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, the Connections Accelerator Service will be operational by the end of 2025.
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 Drax's sourcing from old growth forests in Canada on the UK's environmental and sustainability commitments.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Large-scale biomass generators must comply with sustainability criteria which include wide ranging environmental protections regarding biodiversity, legal and sustainable harvesting, maintenance of forest productivity, and social criteria pertaining to indigenous land rights and worker health and safety.
We have enhanced protections under the new contract for difference which takes effect from 2027 and prohibits the use of primary material derived from primary and old growth forests. Any breaches would result in significant financial penalties for Drax and could lead to termination of the contract.
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 proportion of the biomass burned in large-scale biomass power stations was sourced from old growth or primary forest in 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Biomass sustainability criteria require all biomass for power generation to be legally harvested, and comply with any applicable legislation in the countries of origin to protect primary forest and old growth areas. This means the risk of material from primary forests and old growth areas entering the UK is low, and volumes are minimal.
The Government takes this issue seriously and from 2027 new requirements will explicitly exclude primary material from forestry in primary forest and old growth areas from eligibility for subsidy, protect against regulatory regression abroad, and impose enhanced audit and assurance standards on biomass generators.
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 his Department is taking to ensure the waste heat from SMR turbine halls is used in a way that contributes to achieving net zero.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) will play an important role in helping the UK achieve our energy security and net zero ambitions. Government recognises the potential role of SMRs in energy sectors beyond electricity generation, including as a source of low carbon heat.
The department will shortly be publishing a new policy framework which will lay out pathways for privately led advanced nuclear projects to be brought forward in the UK. Great British Energy – Nuclear will take on a new role in assessing proposals, with the National Wealth Fund exploring potential investment opportunities.
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 his Department is taking to prioritise the development of small modular reactors as load following sources.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The next generation of nuclear, including small modular reactors (SMR), offers new possibilities including faster deployment, lower capital costs, and greater flexibility.
Whilst nuclear energy has a unique role to play in delivering stable, low carbon baseload energy, SMRs may be able to serve the electricity grid more flexibly than traditional nuclear, as well as unlock a range of additional applications in energy sectors beyond grid electricity.
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 planning restrictions on noise levels for heat pumps on installation of those pumps.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Research found that noise complaints from air source heat pumps are rare and heat pumps are perceived as being very quiet (Air source heat pump noise emissions, planning guidance and regulations - GOV.UK).
In 2025 the Government amended the Permitted Development Right for air source heat pumps in England, to give households greater flexibility to install an air source heat pump without needing to submit a planning application, while retaining the sound limit. Subsequently, some installers have reported significant reductions in installations requiring planning applications.
The Government continues to explore how to streamline the planning process for low carbon heating.
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 small modular reactors being made as load following energy sources.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The next generation of nuclear, including small modular reactors (SMR), offers new possibilities including faster deployment, lower capital costs, and greater flexibility.
Whilst nuclear energy has a unique role to play in delivering stable, low carbon baseload energy, SMRs may be able to serve the electricity grid more flexibly than traditional nuclear, as well as unlock a range of additional applications in energy sectors beyond grid electricity.
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 his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing a comprehensive redress scheme for consumers (a) installing and (b) retrofitting low carbon technologies.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This government’s main priority is protecting consumers and the homes they live in, and we will continue to fight for reform of a system which is clearly not fit for purpose.
The reform will involve rapidly changing the landscape of regulation, spanning from how installers working in people’s homes are certified and monitored, to where homeowners turn to for rapid action and enforcement if things go wrong. This work is already underway, but we will set out plans for root and branch reform as part of the Warm Homes Plan, which will be published soon.