Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 for battery storage technologies to enhance grid stability.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Battery storage technologies play an important role in ensuring grid stability through balancing the power system in real time and have the potential to support grid stability through grid-forming capabilities, depending on the type of technology used and their location on the network. The National Energy System Operator completed a trial of grid-forming batteries on the Stability Pathfinder programme and these technologies can now apply into the Stability Markets to provide these services through a transparent and competitive process.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 resilience of the electricity grid against extreme weather events.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Energy Resilience is a top priority for Government. Government works continuously with industry to improve and maintain the resilience of energy infrastructure to a range of risks including extreme weather events.
The Energy Resilience Group (ERG), which brings together Government, regulators and industry, including network operators, works to identify lessons after all large energy incidents to ensure continuous improvement to the network.
Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
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 adequacy of the national gird infrastructure's resilience to hazards caused by climate change in (a) Broxtowe, (b) the East Midlands and (c) England.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Maintaining a secure and resilient energy system is a top priority for Government. We work continually with industry to improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure, considering a range of evolving risks and hazards – including changing climate.
The National Energy System Operator, an independent technical body, delivers resilience functions, including understanding and planning system resilience.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has received assurances from National Energy System Operator that the drop in frequency in the electricity grid on 2 May 2026 will not be repeated.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Electricity system frequency remained within statutory limits at all times on 2nd May 2026. These statutory limits are defined in the Security and Quality of Supply Standard.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what was responsible for the drop in frequency in the electricity grid at 16:00 on 2 May 2026.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The drop in frequency in the electricity grid on 2 May 2026 was caused by a combination of factors, including a rapid increase in demand coinciding with a net interconnector reduction. Frequency remained within statutory limits at all times.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to introduce a minimum export value for rooftop solar energy exported to the grid.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a market-led mechanism in which energy suppliers, not government, set both tariff levels and structure. This is designed to encourage innovation and competition in the sector and minimise costs to consumers.
The Government has recently committed to consult on changes to make it quicker and simpler for generators to be paid for the electricity they export to the grid.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
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 adequacy of export payments for large scale rooftop solar generation.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) provides a route for eligible rooftop solar generators, up to 5 megawatts, to receive payment for exported electricity.
Solar installations above 5 megawatts are outside the SEG and may sell exported electricity through commercial market arrangements including Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
The Department recently completed a Call for Evidence on corporate PPAs and will publish a summary of responses in due course.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
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 impact of network constraint payments on the unit cost of electricity for industrial consumers.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Reformed National Pricing Delivery Plan sets out an ambitious package of measures to bear down on costs in the next few years, particularly in relation to the network constraints caused by historic under-investment in the electricity grid.
Furthermore, the Government has committed to uplifting the level of relief offered to energy intensive industries (EIIs) through the Network Charging Compensation Scheme from 60% to 90%, taking effect from the claim month of April 2026. This provides relief for constraints costs by reducing Balancing Services Use of System charges for EIIs.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which organisation is responsible for ensuring that the frequency of the electricity grid remains within statutory limits.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for operating the Great Britain electricity system and maintaining system frequency within statutory limits. This responsibility is established through NESO's licence obligations, which are overseen by Ofgem.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
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 through the Energy Resilience Strategy to mitigate risks to national grid stability.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Maintaining the stability and operability of Great Britain’s electricity system is the responsibility of the independent National Energy System Operator (NESO), working with network companies through regulated market arrangements.
The Government works closely with NESO to support the effective delivery of these responsibilities and NESO has a range of tools at its disposal to keep the electricity system in balance and maintain system stability.
The Energy Resilience Strategy will set out the Government’s strategic priorities for a resilient energy system, now and in the future, and how the Government will work with industry, the regulator and wider society to deliver that. Accordingly, the Government is working closely with NESO to develop and deliver the priorities to be set out in this strategy.