Written questions by Race.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of replicating the Wave Energy Scotland model across the UK.

The department has not undertaken a formal assessment of the potential merits of replicating the Wave Energy Scotland (WES) model across the UK. WES primarily utilizes a competitive pre-commercial procurement (PCP) model to drive innovation and development in the wave energy sector. However, the Government has provided innovative support for wave energy though a suite of a suite of research funding programmes, operated both by DESNZ centrally, and, by UK Research and Innovation, including competitive funding schemes programmes such as the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of innovation funding on the Levelised Cost of Energy of marine energy technologies; and what steps he is taking to support these emerging renewables.

The department has not directly undertaken an assessment of the potential impact of innovation funding on the Levelised Cost of Energy of marine energy technologies, However, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in their 2018 Tidal Stream and Wave Energy Cost Reduction and Industrial Benefit study examined the potential impact of additional focus on innovation on cost reduction of marine technologies. The Government continues to provide innovative support for marine energy technologies though a suite of a suite of research funding programmes, including through UK Research and Innovation.

What the spend per grant recipient is from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

The Government has provided innovation funding through the £1.3 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) and Advanced Nuclear Fund (ANF) to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative, low-carbon technologies, systems and business models in power, buildings and industry. The NZIP and ANF have supported over 600 projects, which has in turn supported 5,500 jobs and leveraged a further £750 million of private sector match funding in the UK. The portfolio funds a range of programmes from small scale grants with SMEs to large-scale programmes, such as the Low-Cost Nuclear Programme with Rolls Royce SMR Ltd. To date, £1.1 billion has been allocated from the portfolio with around half allocated to small businesses in the UK. A final Progress Report on the performance of the NZIP is expected to be published later this year.

How much money has been allocated from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

The Government has provided innovation funding through the £1.3 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) and Advanced Nuclear Fund (ANF) to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative, low-carbon technologies, systems and business models in power, buildings and industry. The NZIP and ANF have supported over 600 projects, which has in turn supported 5,500 jobs and leveraged a further £750 million of private sector match funding in the UK. The portfolio funds a range of programmes from small scale grants with SMEs to large-scale programmes, such as the Low-Cost Nuclear Programme with Rolls Royce SMR Ltd. To date, £1.1 billion has been allocated from the portfolio with around half allocated to small businesses in the UK. A final Progress Report on the performance of the NZIP is expected to be published later this year.

How much and what proportion of Net Zero Innovation Portfolio funding has been allocated to small businesses.

The Government has provided innovation funding through the £1.3 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) and Advanced Nuclear Fund (ANF) to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative, low-carbon technologies, systems and business models in power, buildings and industry. The NZIP and ANF have supported over 600 projects, which has in turn supported 5,500 jobs and leveraged a further £750 million of private sector match funding in the UK. The portfolio funds a range of programmes from small scale grants with SMEs to large-scale programmes, such as the Low-Cost Nuclear Programme with Rolls Royce SMR Ltd. To date, £1.1 billion has been allocated from the portfolio with around half allocated to small businesses in the UK. A final Progress Report on the performance of the NZIP is expected to be published later this year.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio on the economy.

The Government has provided innovation funding through the £1.3 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) and Advanced Nuclear Fund (ANF) to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative, low-carbon technologies, systems and business models in power, buildings and industry. The NZIP and ANF have supported over 600 projects, which has in turn supported 5,500 jobs and leveraged a further £750 million of private sector match funding in the UK. The portfolio funds a range of programmes from small scale grants with SMEs to large-scale programmes, such as the Low-Cost Nuclear Programme with Rolls Royce SMR Ltd. To date, £1.1 billion has been allocated from the portfolio with around half allocated to small businesses in the UK. A final Progress Report on the performance of the NZIP is expected to be published later this year.

What steps he is taking to increase solar power generation.

The Government recently announced the re-establishment of the Solar Taskforce and publication of the Solar Roadmap will follow shortly, setting out recommendations on how we and industry will work together to achieve our ambition to radically increase deployment by 2030. Alongside that, Government recently concluded its latest Contracts for Difference round, where a record 3.3GW of solar capacity was secured.