Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

When he plans to publish the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan will be published by the National Energy System Operator in 2026.

What the maximum amount of best and most versatile land is that could be (a) used in a solar farm development designated as NSIP and (b) granted a Development Consent Order.

There is no set maximum amount of best and most versatile land that may be used in a nationally significant infrastructure development. Each case is judged on its own merits in line with the requirements in the Planning Act 2008 and relevant policy, such as the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Infrastructure (EN-3) which states at 2.10.29: “Where the proposed use of any agricultural land has been shown to be necessary, poorer quality land should be preferred to higher quality land avoiding the use of Best and Most Versatile agricultural land where possible”, and at 2.10.30: “Whilst the development of ground mounted solar arrays is not prohibited on Best and Most Versatile agricultural land, or sites designated for their natural beauty, or recognised for ecological or archaeological importance, the impacts of such are expected to be considered”.

Which Government departments have received grant funding through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme since 5 July 2024.

Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme was launched in September 2024 and closed to applications in November 2024. Applications are currently being processed by Salix Finance, the non-departmental public body that administers the scheme on behalf of the Department. The full list of grant recipients and funding awarded will be published in due course at the following site: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-sector-decarbonisation-scheme.

What the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme budget was in financial year (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26.

The budget for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme was £449 million in 2023/24, £427 million in 2024/25, and is £401 million for 2025/26.

How much grant funding has been allocated through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

The Department has allocated over £2.9 billion in grant funding through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme over the financial years 2020/21 to 2025/26. Further grants are currently being allocated for the financial years 2025/26 to 2027/28 from the budget of more than £1 billion for public sector decarbonisation announced in Autumn Budget 2024.

What upgrades his Department plans to make to the Eaton Socon sub-station in Cambridgeshire in order to accommodate greater capacity.

Ofgem regulates the network companies to ensure they are investing to operate, maintain and upgrade electricity infrastructure, including substations. For the next transmission network price control (RIIO-ET3 2026-2031) and distribution network price control (RIIO-ED3 2028-2033), Ofgem has identified the need for significant investment in new capacity ahead of need, based on strategic planning, and regulatory changes to transform Great Britain’s electricity networks to enable clean power and economic growth.

What steps he taking to ensure that the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan ensures that new energy infrastructure projects are located in the most appropriate areas.

In October 2024, the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments commissioned the National Energy System Operator to produce a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP). This commission included the development of a methodology to set out in more detail how the SSEP will be produced. The SSEP will not recommend project-specific locations, but will set out the potential for the development of energy infrastructure in different areas of Great Britain through economic and geospatial modelling. The methodology is subject to final approval by the Secretary of State and is due for publication in May.

What the evidential basis is for the solar Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project threshold of 100Mw.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 March to Question UIN 39647. The Government set out the evidence for increasing the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project threshold for solar to 100MW in its response to the consultation on the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system which can be found here. The Impact Assessment for this provision, which was rated green by the RPC, was published here.

How many partnerships with Great British Energy are currently in place; and what the total value is of those partnerships.

Great British Energy (GBE) has partnerships with The Crown Estate, the Scottish Government, and the National Wealth Fund. GBE is also developing partnerships with the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive. We have not quantified the total value of these partnerships, but these partnerships are important to support GBE’s early delivery and to ensure that it is working in alignment with the wider clean energy institutional landscape. GBE is also working closely with the Department for Education and the Department for Health and Social Care to deliver solar panels for schools and hospitals in FY2025/26, as announced on 21 March.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in the Second Reading of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on 24 March 2025, Official Report, column 659, how protecting high-quality agricultural land will impact the use of best and most versatile land in energy infrastructure projects.

The National Planning Policy Framework and National Policy Statements were updated in 2024 and make clear that energy infrastructure should always be located in areas of poorer quality land rather that higher quality land where possible. A Strategic Spatial Energy Plan is also being developed to ensure new energy infrastructure projects are located in the most appropriate areas across the UK.

On which date the increased threshold for Nationally Significant Infrastructure projects for solar will take effect.

Subject to parliamentary approval, the higher threshold of 100MW for solar projects will come into force on 31 December 2025.

Whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of extending the £250 reduction in electricity bills for who live within 500m of a pylon to those living near to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project level solar farms.

My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37365, whether he is taking steps with other Departments to eradicate the use of forced labour in energy-related global supply chains.

We are working across Government - particularly alongside the Home Office, Cabinet Office, DBT and FCDO - to comprehensively tackle the use of forced labour in global supply chains. At present, the Government is considering how Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 can be strengthened, including possible penalties for non-compliance, and is working to update statutory guidance. The Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February, enables public sector contracting authorities to terminate contracts and reject bids from suppliers who are known to use forced labour themselves or anywhere in their supply chain.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37760 on Solar Power, how many new solar installations excluding those below 50kW have been consented since 2008; and what capacity each one had.

The Government does not hold the precise data requested. However, relevant information is available in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD), which provides details of individual solar projects that have received planning consent, including the capacity of each. It covers projects larger than 150kW, dating from 2010 onwards. The REPD is publicly available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-energy-planning-database-monthly-extract.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38728 on Solar Power: Infrastructure, what the average size was of consented nationally significant infrastructure projects (a) between 4 July 2008 and 2024, (b) since 4 July 2024 and (c) since 4 July 2008.

The average size of consented nationally significant infrastructure projects (A) between 4 July 2008 and 2024 was:963.71 acres The average size of consented nationally significant infrastructure projects (B) since 4 July 2024 was:2116.62 acres The average size of consented nationally significant infrastructure projects (C) since 4 July 2008 was:1732.32 acres

What the capacity for solar energy generation is; and what his target capacity is in each year between 2025 and 2030.

As at Q3 2024, solar generation capacity stood at 17.4GW. The Clean Power Action Plan set out an ambition for a rapid increase in solar deployment to 45-47GW by 2030, with scope to exceed 47GW, subject to system need, noting the potential of rooftop solar to boost deployment. The Government has not set a target for capacity each year to 2030. However, the Solar Roadmap will set out potential deployment pathways commensurate with the Clean Power 2030 ambition.

Pursuant to the Answer 19 March 2025 to Question 37370 on Infrastructure, what the evidential basis is for his decision to raise the solar threshold for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects from 50MW to 100MW.

Last year, the Government held an 8-week consultation which included a proposal to increase the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects threshold for solar. Consultation responses, sector engagement, and internal analysis contributed to the decision to increase the threshold to 100 megawatts. Evidence suggests the current threshold is no longer reflective of improvements in panel efficiency, with contemporary solar projects covering less area per megawatt yield. Increasing the threshold ensures mid-sized projects have access to a more proportionate planning route, while also addressing the market distortion of projects capped at 49.9 megawatts, allowing sites and grid connections to be used more efficiently.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37365 on Photovoltaics: Import Controls, what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to tackle forced labour in global supply chains in the manufacture of solar panels.

Through the reconvened Solar Taskforce, we have been working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and free from forced labour.The Government is considering how Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 can be strengthened, including possible penalties for non-compliance, and is working to update statutory guidance. The Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February, enables public sector contracting authorities to reject bids and terminate contracts with suppliers which are known to use forced labour themselves or anywhere in their supply chain.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March to Question 37365 on Photovoltaics: Import Controls, what steps he is taking to monitor the Solar Stewardship Initiative.

The Government keeps its level of engagement with the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) under close review, maintaining regular contact with Solar Energy UK and Solar Power Europe, who jointly developed the scheme. We are following the results of the SSI’s first round of traceability audits. These are being analysed thoroughly to assess the extent to which the scheme enables and supports the Government’s goal of securing a resilient, sustainable and just solar supply chain that is free from forced labour.

How many solar farms have been approved as nationally significant infrastructure projects by (a) size in acres and (b) capacity in megawatts in each year since 2008.

Nine nationally significant solar farms have been consented since 2008: Project(a) Approximate size in acres(b) Approximate megawatt capacityYear consentedCleve Hill Solar Park1213.29300 – 4002020Little Crow Solar Park558.461502022Longfield Solar Farm1119.395002023Gate Burton Energy Park1690.205002024Mallard Pass Solar Project2105.343502024Sunnica2424.105002024Cottam Solar Project2841.716002024Heckington Fen Solar Park1448.045002025West Burton Solar Project2190.344802025