Written questions by Asato.

Whether he plans to extend support for anaerobic digestion plants due to expire under the Renewables Obligation.

The Government currently supports anaerobic digestion (AD) through the Renewables Obligation (RO), Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, Feed-in-Tariffs, and the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS). The Government has no plans to extend the RO when it comes to an end from 2027 onwards. Since the RO was launched in 2002, the energy landscape has evolved, and the scheme no longer provides the correct market incentives or value for money for electricity generation.For biomethane from AD, the Government expects to consult this financial year on a policy framework to follow the GGSS, which closes to applications in 2028.

Whether his Department has (a) implemented a domestic abuse policy for staff and (b) trained line managers to effectively respond to staff who are experiencing domestic abuse.

DESNZ is committed to looking after the welfare of our staff. (a) We have Domestic Abuse guidance in place to support staff(b) We have Domestic Abuse guidance in place to support managers. We also promote Cross-Government Domestic Abuse awareness training.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of granting Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project status to large-scale anaerobic digestion and biomethane facilities; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project status designation on (a) the delivery of large-scale anaerobic digestion and biomethane projects and (b) the UK' net zero and energy security targets.

The Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime streamlines planning for major projects, making processes faster and fairer for developers and communities. Large-scale infrastructure is vital for secure, reliable, and affordable energy while meeting decarbonisation targets. Biomethane supports these goals as a low-carbon, domestically produced energy source. The Department is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and other stakeholders to identify the best ways to enable deployment of larger anaerobic digestion and biomethane plants, including assessing whether NSIP designation is the most effective approach to remove barriers and accelerate delivery toward achieving the UK’s net zero targets.

What steps his Department is taking to support the (a) development of the anaerobic digestion and biomethane sector, (b) design of support mechanisms for that sector and (c) inclusion of biomethane in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.

Biomethane production is supported by the Green Gas Support Scheme, which is open to applications until March 2028. Following the February 2024 call for evidence, the Government intends to consult on a future policy framework consultation this financial year. The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) applies a zero emissions factor to biomethane combustion where supplied directly to ETS installations. Where injected into the gas grid, there is not currently a mechanism to ensure biomethane is accounted for separately. The Department is considering feedback on the impacts of this to inform next steps and will provide an update in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to support the growth of the biomethane sector.

Biomethane can play an important role in reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, boosting our energy security and helping us accelerate to net zero. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is working with The National Energy System Operator (NESO) on biomethane’s role in clean power and net zero. DESNZ expects to publish a consultation on a holistic future policy framework for biomethane in financial year 2025-26, to follow the current Green Gas Support Scheme, which closes to new applications in March 2028.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential role of biomethane in the UK’s transition to (a) a clean power system and (b) in achieving net zero.

Biomethane can play an important role in reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, boosting our energy security and helping us accelerate to net zero. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is working with The National Energy System Operator (NESO) on biomethane’s role in clean power and net zero. DESNZ expects to publish a consultation on a holistic future policy framework for biomethane in financial year 2025-26, to follow the current Green Gas Support Scheme, which closes to new applications in March 2028.

Whether he has considered the assessment of the role of biomethane in the National Energy System Operator’s Future Energy Scenarios.

Biomethane can play an important role in reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, boosting our energy security and helping us accelerate to net zero. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is working with The National Energy System Operator (NESO) on biomethane’s role in clean power and net zero. DESNZ expects to publish a consultation on a holistic future policy framework for biomethane in financial year 2025-26, to follow the current Green Gas Support Scheme, which closes to new applications in March 2028.

Whether the Warm Homes Plan will include clean heating solutions required in rural areas as well as urban areas.

Our ambitious Warm Homes Plan will support investment in households, including both rural and urban areas, to install energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to save families money on their bills. Heat pumps, along with heat networks, will be the primary technologies for decarbonising home heating over the next decade.The Government has committed £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency. This includes the new Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG), which will provide support for low-income households living in privately owned EPC band D-G homes both on and off the gas grid in England. The WH:LG will be delivered from 2025 to 2028 by eligible local authorities.

Whether the Warm Homes Plan will include the decarbonisation of rural off-grid households.

Our ambitious Warm Homes Plan will support investment in households, including rural off-grid households, to install energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to save families money on their bills. The Government has committed £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency. This includes the new Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG), which will provide support for low-income households living in privately owned EPC band D-G homes both on and off the gas grid in England. The WH:LG will be delivered from 2025 to 2028 by eligible local authorities.

Whether he plans to provide funding for thermal storage in homes where it is difficult to install a traditional hot water cylinder.

The Government recognises that thermal storage can be advantageous, because of its smaller physical size, for properties that may struggle to install a traditional hot water cylinder. If installed at the same time as a heat pump, the installation of thermal storage will be zero rated for VAT purposes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not fund thermal storage because we are directing funding at heat pumps and in limited circumstances biomass boilers. However, we will keep our policy under review as further evidence emerges. In addition, Government is funding innovation in thermal storage through its energy research programmes.

Whether he plans to provide funding for alternative low carbon technologies in places where it is (a) difficult and (b) expensive to install a heat pump.

Heat pumps will have a major role to play in all net zero pathways and the Government expects most properties will ultimately switch to heat pumps as these are a proven technology and have been installed in high numbers in other countries.We recognise that heat pumps may not be feasible in a small number of off-gas-grid properties and have commissioned a package of research to collect data on the costs of different approaches to decarbonising the most complex housing archetypes, including the use of alternative low carbon heating solutions. We expect to receive results from that research in 2025.

When the Community Benefits guidance for electricity transmission network infrastructure will be published.

We are committed to ensuring that communities who live near new clean energy infrastructure can see the benefits of this and are currently considering how to most effectively deliver this. This includes developing guidance on community benefits for electricity transmission network infrastructure, which we will publish in due course.