Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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 meet the future energy demand placed on the grid by electrifying heavy goods vehicles.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government is delivering a major expansion of electricity networks to ensure there is sufficient grid capacity to meet future electricity demand, including from the electrification of heavy goods vehicles.
We are working with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator to speed up delivery of new network infrastructure through reforms to planning and regulation, support for communities and strategic network design. We are radically reforming the grid connections process to ensure that both generation and demand can connect in a timely manner.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
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 receiving approval from NESO for additional grid connection for the final phase of Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s rebuild.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of the requirements for individual connections to the electricity network are held in private connection contracts between the relevant parties.
Faster grid connections are crucial to the Government's clean energy superpower and growth missions. We announced plans in the Industrial Strategy on a series of measures to accelerate connections for strategically important demand projects.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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 electrifying heavy goods vehicles on future demand on the energy grid.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The zero emission HGV sector is at early stages of deployment, but the demand is expected to grow as more trucks come to market. Government is taking a range of short and long-term actions, including new national and regional strategic planning processes, to ensure electricity infrastructure meets future demand.
This includes working with Ofgem and NESO to input into these actions and raise the awareness of future transport requirements, as well as encouraging a direct dialogue with transport stakeholders to provide clarity and evidence on electricity requirements to ensure strategic planning can properly prepare for future demand.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 capacity of the national grid to support projected growth in electric vehicle charging demand over the next decade.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is working closely with Ofgem to ensure that its price control framework supports the necessary investment in the electricity network to deliver our clean energy and growth missions. This includes ensuring that the distribution network has sufficient capacity to meet projected demand from electric vehicles into the future.
The current price control, RIIO-ED2 (2023–2028), enables forward-looking investment aligned with and incorporates uncertainty mechanisms to allow networks to respond flexibly to rising demand. The next price control, RIIO-ED3 (2028–2033), will be informed by Regional Energy Strategic Plans to support more strategic, anticipatory and coordinated investment.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what policies his Department is developing to ensure that (a) heavy-duty vehicle depots and (b) bus depots can access timely electricity grid connections.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is implementing fundamental reforms to the connections process that will free up capacity and accelerate connections, including for heavy-duty vehicle and bus depots. Alongside this, we encourage transport stakeholders to engage with NESO to ensure that the regional energy strategic plans that will inform future investment in grid capacity reflect their future electricity requirements.
However, we recognise that further action is needed, which is why we announced plans in the Industrial Strategy to use new legal powers to accelerate grid connection timelines for the most strategically important demand customers.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of prioritising grid connections for renewable energy projects that are ready to commence.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is working closely with the National Energy System Operator, Ofgem and the network companies to deliver fundamental reform of the grid connections process. The reforms will prioritise connections for viable and strategically aligned projects, by releasing up to 500GW of capacity from the oversubscribed connections queue. This will enable accelerated connections for renewable energy projects that are ready and aligned with our strategic needs, as set out in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, and help unlock £40 billion of mainly private investment a year in clean energy and infrastructure.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Downing Street uses renewable energy for its electricity.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Downing Street is connected to the National Grid, which uses a range of energy sources, including renewable energy.
Asked by: Lord Cameron of Lochiel (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to reform the grid connections queue in order to remove "zombie scheme" energy applications.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is working closely with the National Energy System Operator, Ofgem and the network companies to deliver fundamental reform of the grid connections process. The reforms will prioritise connections for viable and strategically aligned projects needed for clean power, helping unlock £40 billion of mainly private investment a year in clean energy and infrastructure. They will ensure only projects that are ready and needed are offered a connection, by requiring evidence of land access and permission to build, as well as how a project strategically aligns with the Clean Power Action Plan.
Asked by: Lord Cameron of Lochiel (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how many "shovel-ready" energy applications have secured grid connections in Scotland since 2021, broken down by local authority area.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department does not hold this data however, through reforms to the connections process, only projects that are ready and needed will be offered a connection, by requiring evidence of land access and permission to build, as well as how a project aligns with the Clean Power Action Plan.
Asked by: Lord Cameron of Lochiel (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to discourage energy companies from lodging speculative "zombie scheme" energy applications.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is working closely with the National Energy System Operator, Ofgem and the network companies to deliver fundamental reform of the grid connections process. The reforms will prioritise connections for viable and strategically aligned projects needed for clean power, helping unlock £40 billion of mainly private investment a year in clean energy and infrastructure. They will ensure only projects that are ready and needed are offered a connection, by requiring evidence of land access and permission to build, as well as how a project strategically aligns with the Clean Power Action Plan.