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 161–180 of 227 · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Whether his Department is taking steps to streamline regulatory approval processes for new nuclear projects.
The UK has an enabling, robust and rigorous energy regulatory regime. The Government is taking steps towards speeding up and streamlining the planning process and will continue to work with the regulators to understand the potential for additional streaml...
What steps he is taking to ensure that the UK has the (a) skills and (b) workforce to support the expansion of nuclear energy as part of the net-zero transition.
The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK nuclear industry has the necessary skills needed to deliver our nuclear ambitions. Recognising the need for urgent action, the nuclear sector across civil and defence are responding collaboratively to de...
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of reliance on China-owned companies for the supply of energy infrastructure on national security.
The Government will carry out an audit of the UK’s relationship with China as a bilateral and global actor, to improve our ability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of deploying Small Modular Reactors on the Government's net-zero targets.
The government is clear that new nuclear power stations, such as Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and small modular reactors (SMRs), will play an important role in helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skille...
If he will make an estimate of the quantity and proportion of energy infrastructure that will be required to meet his solar power targets that will be sourced from Chinese companies.
Solar power is a mature technology with well-established and competitive global supply chains, with industrial-scale solar panel manufacturing mainly concentrated in Asia, the US and EU. We have relaunched the Solar Taskforce which will be focusing on ide...
What steps he is taking to support (a) international climate commitments and (b) other global nuclear energy initiatives.
The Government is committed to restoring the UK’s global climate leadership, building on its mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. We will work with countries to deliver on the Global Stocktake agreed at COP28. We intend to announce our own a...
What estimate he has made of the quantity and proportion of the copper that will be required to decarbonise the grid by 2030 that will be sourced from overseas markets.
Significant infrastructure investment is required to meet the Government’s mission for clean power by 2030 and accelerate to net zero. The equipment, such as cables and transformers, to enable transformation of the grid will be reliant on copper and its a...
What steps he is taking to support the development of fusion technology.
Fusion supports the Government’s missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower. The commercial process for the STEP powerplant programme is in train, we are investing in cutting-edge research programmes and facilities, a...
What estimate he has made of the number of kilometres of new energy transmission lines that will be required to decarbonise the grid by 2030.
The Secretary of State and Head of Mission Control wrote to the Electricity System Operator (ESO) on 23rd August to formally commission advice regarding the key requirements for the Government to meet its clean power commitment by 2030. This includes the ...
What estimate he has made of the quantity of copper that will be required to provide 60 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030.
Significant infrastructure investment is required to meet the Government’s mission for clean power by 2030 and accelerate to net zero. The equipment, such as cables and transformers, to enable transformation of the grid will be reliant on copper and its a...
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of decarbonising the grid by 2030 on demand for copper.
Significant infrastructure investment is required to meet the Government’s mission for clean power by 2030 and accelerate to net zero. The equipment, such as cables and transformers, to enable transformation of the grid will be reliant on copper and its a...
What estimate he has made of the tonnes of copper that will be required to decarbonise the National Grid by 2030.
Significant infrastructure investment is required to meet the Government’s mission for clean power by 2030 and accelerate to net zero. The equipment, such as cables and transformers, to enable transformation of the grid will be reliant on copper and its a...
What assessment he has made of the (a) reliability of supply chains for and (b) resilience to price shocks in the zinc market in the context of his energy policies.
Taking action to ensure that our clean energy supply chains are resilient is a key priority across our missions - both to make the UK a clean energy superpower and kickstart growth. The Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC), sponsored by the Depart...
What the cost differential per kilowatt is for nuclear development for large scale gigawatt projects and small modular reactors.
Great British Nuclear is currently administering the small modular reactor (SMR) technology selection process and is now in the process of evaluating bids. Given that this is a live procurement process it would be inappropriate at this time to comment on the economics of SMR power generation or to make any comparison across nuclear technologies, but all nuclear projects will be subject to a detailed value for money assessment, including cost.
What discussions he has had with Sheffield University’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre on potential redundancies.
The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) is part of the University of Sheffield and receives funding from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. These organisations have been reviewing their nuclear innovation capabilities to ensure they are fit for purpose and delivered cost effectively. These reviews will complete soon and will inform the University’s decision on the future of NAMRC. Ministers and officials have engaged where appropriate, given the independence of the organisations involved, and will work with all the relevant parties to ensure that the critical staff, knowledge and capabilities in the NAMRC are preserved within the sector where needed.
What progress his Department has made on the Pre-Tender Market Engagement for nuclear development at Wylfa.
Although pre-tender market engagement for large-scale nuclear published by the previous Government has now closed, we recognise the key role that the GBN-owned site at Wylfa can play in future nuclear projects and helping to achieve energy security and clean power. We will set out our plans for the site in due course.
What his planned timetable is for responding to the Approach to siting new nuclear power stations beyond 2025 consultation, which closed on 10 March 2024.
The Government is grateful for the views submitted as part of the consultation on the approach to siting new nuclear power stations beyond 2025. This consultation was run to inform drafting of a new nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) which we will bring forward in due course. EN-7 will be subject to the usual public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny.
When he will make a final investment decision on Sizewell C.
The Government is committed to the development of Sizewell C, and is working to secure a Final Investment Decision (FID). Subject to receiving the relevant approvals we aim to reach FID before the end of this year.
What his planned timetable is for responding to the Alternative routes to market for new nuclear projects consultation, which closed on 12 April 2024.
The Alternative Routes to Market for New Nuclear Projects consultation was published on 11th January 2024 and closed on 12th April 2024. Consultation responses have been analysed and the Department intends to publish a factual response in due course.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of gigawatt scale selections in Europe on the UK’s commitment to tripling nuclear globally by 2050.
The UK has long established relationships with European partners considering gigawatt scale civil nuclear deployment and, as one of the 22 countries to sign up to a pledge to triple civil nuclear globally, is working to coordinate plans to deploy civil nuclear domestically and around the world. The Government recognises the increasing demand on supply chains as countries seek to meet their nuclear ambitions and so will work with industry to realise the full range of responsible deployment pathways.