Written questions by Onwurah.

How Green Book appraisal criteria are used to assess investments in energy infrastructure in regions with high industrial and renewable potential, including the North East.

HM Treasury’s Green Book sets out the framework for assessing value for money for taxpayers across different policy proposals. It is applied consistently across all regions. However, it also uses place-based analysis to account for differences between towns, regions and countries, including areas such as the North East. When assessing infrastructure proposals, officials consider the full range of societal costs and benefits, including upfront and operating costs, changes in energy use, and impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. These are quantified and monetised using the best available evidence and standardised assumptions, ensuring consistent and robust assessments for ministers.

What assessment he has made of the electricity demand of large‑scale data centres, in (1) the UK and (2) those located in the North East; and what plans exist to ensure adequate grid capacity to support future digital growth.

The Department’s energy and emissions projections include growth in power demand from computing services like data centres. To ensure a comprehensive view of the system, the methodology projects at a broader sector level, not disaggregating specific estimates for data centres. The Government is committed to ensuring electricity networks can meet rising electricity demand, including from data centres, by deploying new renewable and low-carbon generation in line with the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. The Capacity Market ensures supply continuously meets demand, balancing cost and reliability to maintain adequate electricity security.

What steps he is taking to ensure that new offshore wind developments deliver long‑term skilled jobs and supply‑chain opportunities for communities in the North East.

The Government has set out a package of support for offshore wind supply chains and infrastructure of up to £1bn, including £300m from Great British Energy, £400m from The Crown Estate and £300m from industry. Allocation Round 7 secured a record 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity, supporting investment across the UK. This is already translating into local jobs and investment, including the recent offshore foundation fabrication contract at Smulders worth more than £60 million. The Crown Estate recently announced that their next seabed leasing round (Round 6) will be launched in 2027 and will focus on sites off the coast of the North East of England.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of industrial electricity prices on inward investment in AI data centres since OpenAI’s decision to pause its UK Stargate project.

The Government is focused on continuing to create the right conditions for investment in the UK’s AI and data centre infrastructure. Through the AI Energy Council, it is already bringing together energy system bodies and leading technology companies, including NESO, EDF, Microsoft and Google, to address the energy implications of AI growth and ensure the system is ready to support future demand. Alongside this, the Government is bringing forward a consultation on discounting data centres' energy costs for eligible projects in areas with excess electricity supply, including Scotland, Cumbria and the North East.

What estimate his Department has made of the total untapped offshore wind generating capacity in the North Sea; and what proportion of that capacity could be brought forward through future Crown Estate leasing rounds.

In January 2026 the UK signed a clean energy pact with Germany, France, Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark and Norway. This noted that 300GW of offshore wind could be built across the North Sea by 2050. The Crown Estate has said publicly that they could bring 20-30GW of new offshore wind capacity to market by 2030.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for UK energy grid procurement policies of the Strider report on US grid dependency on Chinese components.

The protection and security of the energy sector is an absolute priority of this Government. My department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. Investment in the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny – we take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must. As an open economy, we welcome foreign trade and investment where it supports growth and jobs in the UK, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the procurement and contract‑management processes used for the Fuel Finder project; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that public money allocated to this project has been spent effectively and provides value for money.

A competitive and open tender process was run for Fuel Finder in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and government procurement policies and guidance. Evaluation criteria included quality, technical criteria and total cost. The Fuel Finder contract is managed in line with the Government Digital Service Standard and is overseen by Departmental project boards, following established governance arrangements and spend assurance processes that apply to all major digital and commercial projects. All of the above are steps taken to ensure an effective implementation and the project will continue to be reviewed to ensure value for money, minimising and managing costs carefully.

If he will take steps with the Office for Product Safety and Standards to ensure that regulations and repairability indexes for small electrical devices promote not only professional repair services but also end-user self-repair.

The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 require manufacturers of a number of products to provide certain spare parts to end-users as well as professional repairers. The Government continues to review ecodesign and energy labelling regulations for other small electrical devices as part of our ongoing programme of work. We are committed to introducing repairability measures, including those designed to support end-users, where doing so is appropriate.

What steps he is taking to encourage the connection of residential developments to district heating schemes.

The Committee for Climate Change has recommended the government grows the heat network sector from providing 3% of national heat demand to 20% by 2050.To deliver this ambition we are transforming the heat network market through policies like heat network zoning, which identifies areas of England where heat networks are expected to be the lowest cost solution for decarbonising heat.Through heat network zoning, certain types of buildings including communally heated residential buildings could be required to connect to a network within a prescribed timeframe.This will allow for large-scale strategic heat networks to be built in towns and cities across the country.

Whether GB Energy has a role in the decarbonising of pre-existing housing stock.

Great British Energy will develop, invest in, build, and operate clean energy projects across the UK. The Government is supporting decarbonisation of housing stock through other initiatives. We have committed £3.4 billion over the next 3 years to the Warm Homes Plan, and across 2025 to 2026, we will oversee approximately £3.2 billion of investment in warmer homes. This will include around £1 billion as part of our Warm Homes Plan, and other funding from social housing providers and obligations from suppliers. This could facilitate up to 300,000 homes to benefit from upgrades next year, helping reduce energy bills and deliver warmer homes that are cleaner to heat.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using the UK’s plutonium stockpile to generate electricity.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) conducted substantial technical, deliverability and economic analysis to identify a preferred option for a long-term disposition solution for the UK-owned plutonium, considering options for immobilisation and reuse of the material as fuel to generate electricity. The outcome of this work recommended immobilisation as the preferred way forward to put the material beyond reach soonest and with greatest delivery confidence. The plutonium cannot be used as fuel in its current form: new infrastructure for Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel production would be required, as well as new reprocessing capabilities to sustain a closed fuel cycle. A proportion of the material is unsuitable for reuse in reactors and requires immobilisation in any scenario.

With reference to the Written Statement of 6 February 2025 on Consenting and Regulation of Nuclear Energy, HCWS419, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using the UK’s plutonium stockpile to support the delivery of the Government’s policies on nuclear power.

The Government has published a refreshed planning framework for new nuclear reactors (EN-7), including small and advanced modular reactors, for consultation. The new planning framework proposes to empower nuclear developers to identify potentially suitable sites in real-time against a robust set of siting criteria. Plans for Government policies on nuclear power were taken into account when making the decision on plutonium disposition. All current reactor projects use uranium oxide fuel. In addition, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) conducted substantial technical, deliverability and economic analysis to identify a preferred option for a long-term disposition solution for the UK-owned plutonium, considering options for immobilisation and reuse of the material as fuel. Immobilisation is the solution that will place the material beyond reach soonest and with greatest delivery confidence. This is a key step towards dealing with our nuclear legacy and not passing the burden on to future generations.

With reference to the Written Statement of 24 January 2025 on Plutonium Disposition Strategy, HCWS388, if he will publish the basis for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s recommendation to immobilise the UK plutonium stockpile.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) conducted substantial technical, deliverability and economic analysis to identify a preferred option for a long-term disposition solution, considering options for immobilisation and reuse of the material as fuel. It is not intended for the NDA analysis to be made publicly available due to commercial sensitivity and safeguarding national security.

With reference to the pause to the applications process for new entrants to the connections queue from 29 January 2025 announced by the National Energy Systems Operator on 15 January 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of this decision on (a) data centre projects and (b) energy-intensive infrastructure projects.

The short pause on connection applications is a necessary, transitional step in delivering fundamental connections reforms that, if approved by Ofgem, could reduce the connections queue by up to half and will enable accelerated connections for many generation and demand projects. The pause does not apply to demand projects and therefore will not impact data centre or energy-intensive infrastructure projects.

If he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on the potential for small modular nuclear reactors to power datacentres in the UK.

DESNZ and DSIT officials are already working together on the potential for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to power data centres in the UK and will continue to do so. The recently announced AI Energy Council is also an avenue for DESNZ and DSIT SoS to discuss this topic further with the AI industry.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits nuclear fusion as a future energy source.

Fusion has the potential to provide virtually limitless, low-carbon, safe, baseload energy which could revolutionise global energy production. The UK is at the forefront of commercialising fusion technology and is building a strong fusion industry which already supports thousands of high-quality jobs and will create thousands more. The opportunities inherent in fusion development, including transfer of technology like robotics and advanced materials to adjacent energy sectors and inward investment, contribute strongly to the Government’s missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower.

With reference to Great British Energy's press release, Negotiations begin for UK’s small modular reactor programme, published on 11 November 2024, what steps he is taking to help ensure decisions on the UK small modular reactor programme are not delayed beyond spring 2025.

As announced at the Autumn Budget, Great British Nuclear is driving forward the small modular reactor competition for UK deployment and is negotiating with four shortlisted companies. Once negotiations have concluded, the companies will be invited to submit final tenders, which GBN will then evaluate. Final decisions will be taken in the spring. GBN is resourced to deliver the SMR competition and is working to a timeline that enables a robust process underpinned by fairness and transparency, to ensure any selected technology provides best value for money.

What his Department's target is for nuclear capacity in gigawatts by (a) 2030, (b) 2040 and (c) 2050.

Nuclear power currently provides ca. 15% of the UK’s electricity (6GW). As the current fleet retires, the Clean Power Action Plan anticipates a drop in capacity to 3-4GW in 2030.We see nuclear as an important part of the mix going forward and are pushing ahead with building new nuclear. We have committed to getting Hinkley Point C over the line and will take final decisions on Sizewell C and the Great British Nuclear-led Small Modular Reactor programme at the Spending Review.

How many and what proportion of full-time equivalent members of staff in Great British Nuclear work on the UK’s small modular reactor programme.

Great British Nuclear is driving forward its small modular reactor competition for UK deployment. To deliver on this mission, GBN has grown rapidly as an organisation and as of January 2025, GBN has c.145 FTE in total, of which c.90 FTE are focused directly on delivering the SMR programme.

How many and what proportion of full-time equivalent members of staff in his Department work on supporting (a) advanced and (b) small modular nuclear reactors.

Advanced nuclear policy which includes Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) is administered by the Net Zero, Nuclear, and International (NZNI) Group within the Department. This includes an advanced nuclear policy function, a sponsorship interface with Great British Nuclear, which is delivering the SMR competition for UK deployment, and a science and innovation function as part of the Department’s wider Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. While staff numbers will fluctuate in accordance with Department priorities, as of January 2025, the team is made up of c.50 officials. The Department's activities are also supported by independent technical experts.