Written questions by Moran.

What support is available for UK-based research and development companies in the solar industry.

The Government supports UK solar research and development companies in various ways. There is funding available for innovation companies looking to grow, including through UK Research and Innovation. Moreover, the Solar Roadmap included several actions to support R&D companies in the UK, including working with the National Physical Laboratory to explore the establishment of a PV innovation and infrastructure platform. We recently worked with Solar Energy UK to produce a practical guide for companies in the solar supply chain, including R&D firms. It is available here: https://solarenergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Growing-the-UK-Solar-Supply-Chain-A-practical-guide-for-businesses.pdf.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of expanding financial (a) incentives and (b) subsidies for households to install solar panels.

Deploying rooftop solar remains a key priority and the Government continues to support installation in various ways, including through tax relief, energy efficiency schemes and the Smart Export Guarantee. Solar can already benefit households by allowing them to reduce electricity bills significantly and receive payment for excess electricity generated. The Government is investing £13.2bn in the Warm Homes Plan over the Spending Review period, to help households take up measures like solar panels, heat pumps, batteries and insulation. Further detail will be set out by October.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of low-carbon heat networks on (a) reducing (i) NOx emissions and (ii) particulate matter (PM2.5) in urban areas and (b) public health outcomes.

Our assessment of the potential impact of low-carbon heat networks includes monetised air quality benefits based on Green Book (Table 15) fuel consumption standards[1]. Our published consultation stage Zoning Impact Assessment estimated the value of those benefits at between £50m and £270m (2020 prices, 2024 base year) over 40 years. This range includes the health benefits of both reduced NOx and reduced particulate matter. We are working with Defra to ensure heat network zoning policy contributes to the UK’s wider air quality goals - supporting cleaner air and better public health. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-of-energy-use-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions-for-appraisal - Table 15

How his Department plans to integrate the strategic deployment of heat networks capturing waste heat into the Warm Homes Plan.

The Warm Homes Plan will help households and businesses make the switch to clean heat and save money on their bills. Heat networks can offer low-cost, low-carbon heat, and reduce everyone’s bills by using surplus heat that would otherwise be wasted. The Government is investing £13.2bn in the Warm Homes Plan over the Spending Review period (up to 2029/30). Further detail on the Warm Homes Plan, including deployment targets and funding to deliver heat network schemes, will be set out by October.

What discussions his Department has had with (a) Oxford City Council and (b) 1Energy on the Oxford Energy Network project; and what steps his Department is taking to help support (i) people and (ii) businesses to connect to the Oxford Energy Network in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency.

The Department's Heat Networks Team is in regular dialogue with Oxford City Council about their role in Heat Network Zoning and the Oxford Energy Network project. We provided technical support through the early release of our National Zoning Model work and offer commercial support with best practice guidance and templates and signposting to similar Local Authorities. This aims to ensure the private-led heat network benefits Oxford's residents and businesses. 1Energy was awarded capital funding of over £21.956m from the Green Heat Network Fund for the Oxford City project. The fund is delivered by an external partner, Triple Point Heat Network Investment Management, who have regular contact with 1Energy on the progress of the project.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using the Oxford Energy Network as a model for decarbonising heat in historic cities.

The Oxford City heat network, which is being taken forward by 1Energy with support from the Green Heat Network Fund, aims to connect many of the city's historic buildings together. The Department will be monitoring the progress of the project, which is expected to provide many lessons for future heat network development in areas of significant built heritage.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to provide financial support for (a) connection costs and (b) internal heat interface units for consumers connecting to low-carbon heat networks.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants to encourage property owners to replace existing fossil fuel heating with more efficient, low carbon heating systems. Heat pumps are the primary supported technology under the scheme. It does not provide financial support for the connection costs for connecting to heat networks or internal heat interface units. Significant funding to develop new and existing low carbon heat networks across England is provided through the Green Heat Network Fund, which has announced over £506 million in grant awards to date. The Government’s Warm Homes Plan will provide further detail on the support available to help property owners transition to cleaner, low carbon heating.

How many homes his Department has identified as requiring an upgrade from single-phase to triple-phase electricity supply, in the context of the criteria for being a zero-carbon household.

My Department does not hold this data, however only a small minority of homes are likely to need an upgrade from a single to three-phase connection to accommodate multiple or higher-powered low carbon technologies.

Whether he is taking steps with the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure green energy projects have access to CO2 storage.

The recent final investment decisions with the East Coast Cluster and Liverpool Bay CCS are the first steps in unlocking necessary CO2 storage requirements needed to deliver our carbon budgets. The Department continues to work with key regulatory and industry partners so that the capacity needed to store CO2 is accessible to green energy projects, such as cement decarbonisation or sustainable aviation fuels. The Government also recognises that non-pipeline methods of CO2 transportation (for example, road, rail, barge and ship) will be required where it is not feasible to connect to a store via pipeline.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that new green businesses receive required utility connections in a timely manner.

The Government recognises the need for timely connections to the electricity network. The Government has worked at pace with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and the energy regulator, Ofgem, to develop a new connections process where strategically important demand projects will receive the strongest possible non-financial government support to facilitate timely connections. Stalled projects will be removed from the queue to prioritise projects which are vital for economic growth and the acceleration of transmission infrastructure.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that rural communities benefit from hosting ground-mounted solar farm infrastructure on agricultural land.

The Government is committed to ensuring that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, such as solar farms, they directly benefit from it. The relaunched Solar Taskforce, which will set out how Government and industry can radically increase the level of solar deployment required by 2030, is considering how best to ensure that communities receive appropriate benefits. Its recommendations will be made in a Solar Roadmap, due to be published shortly.