Written questions by Heylings.

What steps he is taking to support industrial electrification.

Fuel switching from fossil fuels to electricity has the potential to significantly reduce annual industrial emissions, making a critical contribution to our carbon budget commitments contributing between 15% and 40% of the necessary carbon abatement in industry by 2050. The Government remains committed to supporting industrial electrification and addressing the barriers to investment that were highlighted in the 2023 call for evidence on enabling industrial electrification. This includes further development of policy options to address the high cost of electricity relative to natural gas, and the implementation of planning reforms to speed up infrastructure development and unblock issues on grid connection delays.

What steps he is taking to support green technologies.

The Government is committed to supporting the growth and scaling-up of green technologies, including through the creation of GB Energy, as part of its Clean Energy Superpower Mission. A combined total of £1.3 billion has been committed through the 2021-25 Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) to accelerate the commercialisation of green technologies supporting around 5,500 jobs and leveraging £750 million in private investment. The Government will set out its full approach to seizing the growth opportunities from clean energy industries in the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the deployment of offshore renewables is not detrimental to blue carbon stores.

The Government is committed to delivering clean power by 2030, to accelerating to net zero and to restoring nature. The Government needs to ensure that the UK’s marine ecosystems are healthy and capturing and storing carbon too. This means that new energy infrastructure needs to be planned and developed in a way that protects the natural environment and supports nature recovery. Assessment and mitigation of environmental impacts are a core part of the Government’s planning processes, and future spatial plans will support rebuilding the UK’s natural infrastructure at the same time as building the new energy infrastructure the UK needs for the twenty-first century.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of electricity distribution networks, in the context of meeting the Government's net zero targets.

The National Infrastructure Commission published recommendations on 21 February1 on making the electricity distribution network fit for net zero. Their modelling demonstrates that nationally, £37-50 billion of investment in the distribution network could be needed to meet net zero targets by 2050, taking into account expected increases in electricity demand. We are reviewing the study with our key delivery partners and will publish a formal response this spring. 1 https://nic.org.uk/app/uploads/Electricity-Distribution-Networks-report-21-Feb-2025.pdf

What steps he is taking to increase the capacity of electricity distribution networks.

The Government is committed to expanding the electricity network to support its Clean Energy Superpower mission and is working closely with Ofgem and industry to mobilise the required investment. Under the most recent price control for electricity distribution, covering 2023-2028, Ofgem has allowed £22.2bn for upfront network investment, of which £3.1bn is set aside for network upgrades to ready the grid for low carbon technologies. The National Infrastructure Commission published recommendations on 21 February [1] on making the electricity distribution network fit for net zero. We will review the study with our key delivery partners and will publish a formal response this spring. [1] https://nic.org.uk/app/uploads/Electricity-Distribution-Networks-report-21-Feb-2025.pdf

What steps he is taking to ensure that the rollout of offshore wind is not detrimental to halting species decline by 2030.

The Government is committed to delivering clean power by 2030, to accelerating to net zero and to restoring nature. New energy infrastructure should be built in a way that protects the natural environment and supports nature recovery, by following a “mitigation hierarchy” to avoid damage to marine protected areas, and minimising, restoring and delivering compensation when damage cannot be avoided. On 29 January 2025, the Government announced reforms in infrastructure consenting to unlock up to thirteen major offshore wind infrastructure projects while protecting the marine environment and the Government’s commitment to protect 30% of our seas for nature by 2030.

What steps he is taking to promote nature-positive renewable energy.

The Government will ensure that the protection of nature is embedded into the delivery of clean power and we will be driving for nature to not only be protected but restored through clean power infrastructure. As part of our Clean Power Action Plan, we are considering how to use development to fund nature recovery unlocking a win-win outcome for the economy and for nature. We are working with nature delivery organisations, stakeholders and the sector to consider how we can better support the delivery of infrastructure whilst driving better environmental outcomes.

What his Department's timetable is for publishing submissions to the consultation entitled Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, opened in December 2020; and what plans he has to publish new minimum energy efficiency standards for non-residential buildings.

The Government published the ‘Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes in England and Wales’ consultation on 7 February 2025. This consultation includes government responses to the 2020 consultation on ‘Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes’. Responses to the 2019 and 2021 consultations on minimum energy efficiency standards in the non-domestic private rented sector are being reviewed to inform the policy design and ensure it remains fair and appropriate for landlords and tenants, with the aim to publish in the early part of 2025.

If he will publish the research paper entitled UK:EU Ecofin Regulatory Divergence Study of minimum energy efficiency performance standards (MEPS) for water pumps, vacuum cleaners and tumble dryers, commissioned from Riccardo-AEA Ltd in May 2022; and if he will make it his policy to seek to align related regulations with future EU's Ecofin regulations.

A summary of the research is available. We will consult on the merits of alignment with new EU regulations and will align where it makes sense to do so. GB may choose not to align if it is not in the interests of consumers, businesses, and our wider policy goals.

If his department will make an assessment on the potential merits of the heating-as-a-service (HaaS) business model as a solution to tackle high energy bills in the private rented sector.

The Government has pledged to take action to stand with tenants and deliver the safety and security of warmer, cheaper homes. We are currently consulting on plans to reduce energy bills by increasing standards in the private rented sector in England and Wales. As Government-funded trials have shown, Heat-as-a-Service is a potentially attractive way for consumers to finance the installation and operation of low carbon heating systems. We continue to explore how Government can enable these types of business models, while working to ensure consumers are protected.

For what reason advice on the potential merits of installing (a) loft, (b) wall and (c) roof insulation has been removed from his Department's pages entitled Energy efficient home on gov.uk.

Home upgrades – including insulation – are one of the best tools to get bills down for good and we are committed to promoting properly installed loft, wall and roof insulation. The Government is currently updating the Energy Efficient Home website as part of work to refresh our public campaigns. Additional pages will go live in the coming weeks, including a page on the benefits of cavity wall, roof and loft insulation, and one on wider energy saving tips. The Government’s ‘Find Ways to Save Energy in your Home’ service (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency) provides tailored recommendations to increase household energy efficiency, including advice on insulation.

When she will publish the Warm Homes Plan.

The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. Future funding towards decarbonisation and to tackle fuel poverty will be considered as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will conclude in late Spring 2025. The Warm Homes Plan will be published after the conclusion of the Spending Review, and further details will be set out in due course.

When he will confirm funding for the Great British Insulation Scheme for the 2025-26 financial year.

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is not a government funded grant scheme, but an obligation on larger energy suppliers to provide energy efficiency support to eligible households through the installation of one insulation measure per home. GBIS is scheduled to run until March 2026 and is funded through consumer bills, under the price cap.

If he will take steps to ensure that the UK's Nationally Determined Contribution (a) facilitates a just transition and (b) commits to increased climate finance.

In January, the UK submitted its nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), providing additional information on our headline target, including how it will facilitate a just transition. The UK is dedicated to supporting workers, communities and businesses to transition to net zero. As part of the Clean Power Mission to reach clean power by 2030, the UK has established an Office for Clean Energy Jobs (“the Office”) to explore what is needed to ensure our workforce can deliver the dramatic pace of change needed to reach this goal. The UK is committed to delivering climate finance to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts and support a transition to low-carbon economies. In compliance with Article 9.5 of the Paris Agreement, the UK submitted its third Finance Biennial Communication to the UNFCCC in December 2024 which sets out our forward-looking action on the support components of the Paris Agreement. We have also reaffirmed the existing commitment to spend £11.6bn in International Climate Finance by 2025/2026, including at least £3bn on nature. Our next International Climate Finance commitment will be carefully considered and determined through the Spending Review this year. But we’re also clear that public finance alone is not going to fund the global transition, and are working closely with partners to mobilise more private capital for the climate transition.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of tariffs with night-time low electricity pricing for people with (a) electric vehicles and (b) solar panels.

The Government is supportive of electricity suppliers offering tariffs which enable consumers, including electric vehicle owners and those using solar panels, to consume energy at off peak times. This benefits all consumers by reducing the need for additional grid capacity. More generally, we want to see the market offering new, innovative products and services that will help enable consumers to lower their bills, get a better service and support the transition to net zero. The setting of these tariffs is a commercial matter for suppliers.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision to reduce non-compliance fines in the Clean Heat Market Mechanism on the UK's ability to meet carbon budgets.

The Government believes that the reduction to the payment-in-lieu for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism for the first baselining year will provide manufacturers with additional capacity to adapt to the scheme’s introduction, while still providing an incentive to invest in the transition. An impact assessment was published on 21 November 2024 alongside the draft statutory instrument. The adjustment to the payment-in-lieu for the introductory year has not changed the Department's assessment of expected carbon savings from heat pump installations over the scheme’s lifetime. The Government will keep the payment-in-lieu level, like all scheme parameters, under review for future years.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing non-compliance fines in the Clean Heat Market Mechanism on the uptake of heat pumps.

The Government believes that the reduction to the payment-in-lieu for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism for the first baselining year will provide manufacturers with additional capacity to adapt to the scheme’s introduction, while still providing an incentive to invest in the transition. An impact assessment was published on 21 November 2024 alongside the draft statutory instrument. The government is confident that the targeted retrofit heat pump installations for the first scheme year can be achieved but will keep the payment-in-lieu level, like all scheme parameters, under review for future years.

If he will make it his policy to return non-compliance fines for the clean heat market mechanism to the level proposed for 2026 in the document entitled Clean Heat Market Mechanism Consultation: Summary of responses received and government response, published on 30 March 2023.

The Government has made the decision to reduce the level of the payment-in-lieu for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism from the previously proposed £3000 per missing heat pump credit to £500 for the first baselining year, in order to provide industry with additional capacity to adjust to the scheme’s introduction. No decisions have been taken about this or other scheme parameters for future years. The Government will keep the effectiveness of the payment level under close review and will consult on whether and how it should evolve for future years.

What discussions he has had with energy suppliers on providing additional support for households with energy bills in winter 2024-25.

The Government and industry have worked together to deliver a £500m Winter Support Commitment for customers, and we applaud suppliers stepping up on this matter. I also meet regularly with energy suppliers to outline the Government’s expectations of the s...

Whether his Department plans to provide vulnerable households with emergency home insulation in winter 2024-25.

We recently announced the next steps on our Warm Homes Plan, which will see 300,000 homes upgraded in the next year. The government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency, t...