Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the assumed monetary value of atmospheric carbon emissions per tonne they use when evaluating the total cost of different energy generation technologies.

The Government adopts a target-consistent approach to valuing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which is based on estimates of the abatement costs needed to meet specific emissions reduction targets. The value placed on changes in GHG emissions has been reviewed and updated as of October 2021. The carbon values are used to quantify and value the emissions for appraisal purposes.

Specifics are detailed within supplementary guidance to HMT’s Green Book found on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-of-energy-use-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions-for-appraisal#:~:text=This%20guidance%20provides%20government%20analysts,methodology%20for%20UK%20policy%20appraisal