Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has been made of the relative cost to the public purse of (a) providing transitional support for landfill gas generation and (b) responsible parties bearing the unsupported cost of flaring once generation ceases.

The Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) requires landfill operators to manage gas emissions to minimise risks to human health and the environment, including through flaring or, to the extent possible, by generating electricity from captured methane.

The Renewables Obligation (RO) incentivises methane capture through support for electricity generation. As the RO comes to an end, government is exploring options for a long-term methane capture support scheme, including appropriate transitional arrangements.

Any future support will be subject to robust value-for-money assessments, taking account of economic and environmental impacts.

We will shortly consult on possible transitional arrangements.