Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
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 introduce monitoring and evaluation to determine the health and success of the UK hydrogen supply chain.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Developing domestic supply chains is a government priority, as demonstrated through our Industrial Strategy and comprehensive public financial institution offer which will provide direct support to UK hydrogen supply chains.
DESNZ collects supply chain data through the Hydrogen Allocation Rounds and welcomes the industry’s voluntary 50% local content ambition.
We are developing options to strengthen our approach to domestic supply chains in future allocation rounds and will be launching our HAR3 market engagement exercise setting out our proposals in due course.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
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 increase the levels of UK content used in hydrogen production projects as part of the upcoming Hydrogen Allocation Round 3.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We welcome the industry-led voluntary ambition of 50% UK local content for hydrogen across the value chain from 2030. We will work with industry to introduce monitoring and evaluation to determine the health and success of the supply chain in relation to the existing industry voluntary content ambition, which could include exploring stronger incentives around reporting.
We plan to publish a market engagement exercise setting out our proposals for HAR3 in due course.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he will publish the Hydrogen Allocation Round 3 market engagement exercise.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We plan to publish our Market Engagement on the Third Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR3), alongside the updated Hydrogen Strategy, in due course. This will seek feedback on the proposed design and delivery of HAR3 ahead of its intended launch in 2026, as set out in the Industrial Strategy.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with Ofgem on the criteria for the third cap and floor window for electricity interconnectors.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Ofgem is responsible for administering the cap and floor windows for electricity interconnectors, including setting and applying the criteria for the process.
The Department meets regularly with Ofgem to discuss electricity interconnection.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Ofgem has held recent discussions with relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland on its duties under section 202 of the Energy Act 2023.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Section 202 obliges Ofgem to consider how its decisions may assist the Secretary of State in meeting the UK-wide net zero targets in the Climate Change Act 2008.
Ofgem is established as the gas and electricity markets regulator for Great Britain and it has no regulatory functions exercisable in Northern Ireland. Therefore, our understanding is that Ofgem will not have engaged stakeholders in Northern Ireland regarding this duty, and section 202 does not require Ofgem to consider any different targets legislated for by devolved administrations.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to support disabled people with their energy costs.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government is continually reviewing the financial support it provides for the differing energy needs within its communities and prioritising support for the most vulnerable.
The Help for Households campaign includes numerous cost-of-living support schemes in 2023/2024, such as the Winter Fuel Payment, Warm Home Discount, Disability Cost of Living Payment and the Cost-of-Living Payment for those on means tested benefits which has increased from £650 in 2022/2023 up to £900 in 2023/2024. From 1 October, the Ofgem energy price cap will be £1,923 for a typical household energy bill per year. A typical household will see their annual energy bills come down by around £580 since their peak.
As the Government explores possible approaches to consumer protection from 2024, it is working with disability organisations, considering the costs for disabled people and assessing the need for specific support for disabled people using medical equipment in the home.