Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew Bowie this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 201–220 of 227 · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
What his planned timetable is for publishing the updated ETSU-R-97 guidelines.
We aim to publish the updated ETSU-R-97 guidance in Spring 2025. In the meantime, the current ETSU guidance remains suitable for assessing wind turbine noise and should continue to be applied accordingly.
Whether communities will receive remuneration for hosting energy infrastructure.
Communities will continue to have a say on proposals in their area. It is important that communities feel the benefit of energy infrastructure. This is a matter the Government takes seriously and is considering carefully.
If he will give communities the ability to express opposition to hosting grid infrastructure.
For England and Wales, the Planning Act 2008 requires developers to show they have effectively engaged with communities, considering and incorporating feedback. This includes a requirement on developers to demonstrate that they have consulted adequately with communities before they submit applications for consent. In Scotland, the Scottish Government’s good practice guidance sets out the expectations and requirements for consultation.
Whether he plans to consult business leaders in north-east Scotland on the potential impact of his policy on oil and gas.
This Government will engage with industry to ensure a phased and responsible North Sea transition. The Secretary of State has held initial, introductory discussions with industry and we will continue to engage to ensure a just transition where offshore oil and gas workers are able to benefit from the economic opportunities from our transition to net zero.
What steps he will take to ensure the UK Continental Shelf remains (a) viable and (b) investable.
This Government will ensure a phased and responsible North Sea transition. We will manage the North Sea in a way that does not jeopardise jobs. As Britain becomes a clean energy superpower, the government is determined to create new high-quality jobs, working with industry and trade unions as we manage the transition.
What steps he will take to ensure that the UK maintains a strategic reserve of oil and gas.
As a member of the International Energy Agency, the UK has an obligation to hold emergency oil stocks equivalent to a minimum of 90 days of net oil imports for use in the event of a major global oil supply disruption. The Government recognises the need to have natural gas storage to help respond to short-run changes in supply and demand or during cold winter months.
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a presumption in favour of offshoring energy infrastructure where agricultural land would be affected by overhead cables or undergrounding.
The energy National Policy Statements (NPS) require developers to minimise impacts on agricultural land and preferably use land in areas of poorer quality. The NPS sets out a starting presumption for overhead lines in most cases and identifies when undergrounding or subsea cables should be considered.
What discussions he plans to have with OEUK on the future of the North Sea Basin.
This Government will engage with industry to ensure a phased and responsible North Sea transition. The Secretary of State has had introductory discussions with OEUK and the North Sea Transition Authority and we will continue to engage with industry.
When he plans to visit Aberdeen.
The Secretary of State looks forward to visiting all areas of the United Kingdom including Scotland.
What estimate he has made of projected imports of oil and gas over the next five years.
The Government closely monitors and forecasts UK’s supply and demand needs for both oil and natural gas. The Energy Security Plan Update, published in December 2023, includes an assessment of the role of imports in meeting our domestic gas demand until 2050. The department also publishes projections of the UK’s future demand for oil (under existing and near-final policy) and monitors both UK production and demand as part of the regular departmental output. These assessments will be updated in due course to reflect the new government's policy.
How he intends to shortlist for the small modular reactor competition.
Great British Nuclear, the Department’s arm’s-length body responsible for helping deliver the government’s nuclear programme, is currently running a small modular reactor technology selection process for UK deployment. This is a live procurement and is on-going. The window for submitting tenders has now closed and Great British Nuclear is currently evaluating bids. We look forward to providing further information in due course.
Whether he is taking steps to seek new investors for Sizewell C.
Discussions with potential investors participating in the equity raise process are ongoing. We cannot comment further on the process, as it is commercially sensitive. We are committed to Sizewell C, which with other new nuclear projects will play an important role in the Government’s vision for achieving energy independence, lowering consumers’ bills, and securing thousands of good, skilled jobs. Work continues at pace to secure a final investment decision.
What assessment he has made of the role of industry input in the delivery of his policies on North Sea oil and gas.
The government will ensure a phased and responsible transition in the North Sea. We will partner with business and workers to manage our existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan. We will embrace the future of energy production and storage, which will make use of existing offshore infrastructure and the skills of our offshore industries.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of quadrupling offshore wind capacity on communities that will host the necessary transmission infrastructure.
Strategic planning will help ensure the overall impact of network infrastructure is minimised, by considering the impact on communities from the outset, alongside environmental impact, cost and deliverability. However, this will not eliminate the need for new infrastructure. It is therefore important that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, they directly benefit from it. We are currently considering options for this. All projects are subject to the independent planning system, which includes consideration of community impact.
If he will undertake a review of overhead lines; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a presumption in favour of undergrounding where appropriate.
Proposed changes to the energy National Policy Statements (NPSs) were consulted on between 30 March 2023 to 23 June 2023 under the previous administration. Following this, a revised version of the National Policy Statement for electricity networks infrastructure was designated on 17 January 2024. This sets out that overhead lines should be the strong starting presumption for electricity networks developments in general, except in nationally designated landscapes where undergrounding is the starting presumption. The Government will ensure that the National Policy Statements are kept up to date.
What his policy is on new offshore licensing applications.
We do not intend to issue new licences to explore new fields because they will not take a penny off bills, cannot make us energy secure, and will only accelerate the worsening climate crisis. The government does not intend to revoke existing licences, and we will partner with business and workers to manage our existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan. We will embrace the future of energy production and storage, which will make use of existing offshore infrastructure and the skills of our workforce.
Whether he has carried out an economic impact assessment on banning new oil and gas exploration licences.
This Government will ensure a phased and responsible North Sea transition. We will manage the North Sea in a way that does not jeopardise jobs. The Government is taking action to coordinate our approach to ensure a just transition where workers are able to benefit from the economic opportunities from our transition to net zero. We will share more details on our plans for oil and gas exploration in due course. Any future legislative changes would follow the relevant processes, including an impact assessment where appropriate.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of his decision to not approve new oil and gas exploration licences on the Scottish economy.
This Government will ensure a phased and responsible North Sea transition. We will manage the North Sea in a way that does not jeopardise jobs. The Government is taking action to coordinate our approach to ensure a just transition where workers are able to benefit from the economic opportunities from our transition to net zero, particularly in Scotland. We will share more details on our plans for oil and gas in due course. Any future legislative changes would follow the relevant processes, including an impact assessment where appropriate.
What steps he plans to take with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks to help ensure the resilience of the electricity network in rural areas, in the context of trends in the number of (a) extreme weather events and (b) power cuts.
The Government is working with the industry to continually improve and maintain the resilience of old and new energy infrastructure, networks and assets, to reduce vulnerabilities, and ensure an effective response to actual or potentially disruptive incidents - taking into account future system changes and climate change risks. We are also working with Ofgem to provide funding to Distribution Network Operators to improve the service experienced by those customers who experience the poorest levels of performance. This often occurs where the cost of improving the reliability of a part of the network is particularly high, in part due to the low volume of customers served by that part of the network.
When he plans to announce the location of the headquarters for GB Energy.
Scotland plays an incredibly important role in the energy industry in Great Britain and in recognition of the leading role that it plays in the UK’s clean energy revolution, Great British Energy will be headquartered and run from Scotland. We will set out further detail on Great British Energy, including announcing the location in Scotland of its headquarters, in the coming weeks.