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Select Committee · Environmental Audit Committee

Enabling sustainable electrification of the UK economy

Status: Closed Opened: 4 May 2023 Closed: 24 May 2024 28 recommendations 25 conclusions 1 report

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) is to launch a new inquiry examining the challenges and opportunities arising from the increasing use of electricity to power the economy of Net Zero Britain. Read the call for evidence for more information about this inquiry.

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Enabling sustainable electrification of the … HC 278 24 May 2024 53 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
22 Recommendation Sixth Report - Enabling sustainable ele… Accepted in Part

Ensure developers can access the fullest range of providers for grid connection facilities.

We recommend that Ofgem work with the NESO, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Energy Networks Association to ensure that developers can call on the fullest possible range of providers when seeking to connect their generation facilities to the grid. Read more

Government response AI summary
Ofgem and DESNZ recognize the value of competition and are working with Ofgem and NESO to begin the first competition for onshore electricity transmission network build. However, for a fuller range of providers at transmission level, they welcome proposals from industry through the code modification …
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31 Recommendation Sixth Report - Enabling sustainable ele… Accepted in Part

Conduct a nationwide electrification skills needs assessment and develop a comprehensive plan addressing gaps.

Ministers must communicate clearly to industry their expectations on the rollout of energy and electrification infrastructure to meet Government policy objectives in a timely fashion. In tandem with this, we recommend that the Government conduct a nationwide electrification skills needs assessment across all relevant sectors, so as to inform a … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government has established the Clean Energy Workforce Office to coordinate skills activity and improve data on the UK's clean energy workforce, which will include monitoring the labor market, but does not explicitly commit to a specific nationwide electrification skills needs assessment or the full …
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34 Recommendation Sixth Report - Enabling sustainable ele… Accepted in Part

Ensure planning authorities have adequate resources and skills to prevent energy infrastructure bottlenecks.

We urge the Government to ensure that the planning authorities have adequate resources to obtain and develop the skills and capacity necessary to prevent the planning system being a bottleneck to the rollout of energy infrastructure. The increase in planning fees is a justifiable measure to provide more adequate resources … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the need for sufficient resources for local planning authorities and has consulted on increasing planning fees and allowing LAs to set their own fees. It is also reviewing how to deploy additional support from increased stamp duty, but does not explicitly commit …
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48 Recommendation Sixth Report - Enabling sustainable ele… Accepted in Part

Seek regular independent appraisal of NESO’s role in regional energy system planning

The incipient role of the NESO in local energy planning ought to be subject to periodic review to ensure that its engagement is appropriate. We recommend that the NESO seek regular independent appraisal of its role in regional energy system planning to ensure that it is adding value to regional … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that Ofgem will provide oversight of NESO's delivery and that regional Strategic Boards and the price control process will serve as appraisal mechanisms, but explicitly notes that Ofgem has not set out plans for additional independent assessment of NESO’s role.
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Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
12 Mar 2024 Eleanor Warburton · Ofgem, Emily Bourne · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero View ↗
7 Feb 2024 Chris Hewett · Solar Energy UK, Ed Porter · Modo Energy, Kate Gilmartin · British Hydropower Association, Olivia Powis · Carbon Capture and Storage Association, Peter McCrory · RenewableUK, Professor Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith · University of Oxford, Susie Elks · E3G View ↗
17 Jan 2024 Barbara Hammond MBE · Low Carbon Hub IPS Ltd, Councillor Bridget Smith · District Councils Network, Craig Dolan · Heat Pump Association, Dan Stone · Centre for Sustainable Energy, Dr Rebecca Windemer · Regen, Rachel Fletcher · Octopus Energy, Tom Glover · RWE Generation View ↗
15 Nov 2023 Akshay Kaul · Ofgem, Claire Dykta · National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), Craig Dyke · National Grid Electricity System Operator, Eleanor Warburton · Ofgem, Gareth Hislop · Scottish Power Energy Networks, Roisin Quinn · National Grid Electricity Transmission, Susana Neves e Brookes · Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution View ↗
19 Jun 2023 Joanna Campbell · National Infrastructure Commission, Nick Winser CBE · Independent Government Advisor View ↗

Who gave evidence

25 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Eleanor Warburton · Director of Energy Systems Management and Security Ofgem 2
Akshay Kaul · Director of Infrastructure and Security of Supply Ofgem 1
Barbara Hammond MBE · CEO and Executive Director Low Carbon Hub IPS Ltd 1
Chris Hewett · Chief Executive Solar Energy UK 1
Claire Dykta · Head of Markets National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) 1
Councillor Bridget Smith · Vice Chair District Councils Network 1
Craig Dolan · Chair Heat Pump Association 1
Craig Dyke · Head of Strategy and Regulation National Grid Electricity System Operator 1
Dan Stone · Policy and Influencing Officer Centre for Sustainable Energy 1
Dr Rebecca Windemer · Planning and communities lead Regen 1
Ed Porter · Director of Revenue Modo Energy 1
Emily Bourne · Director of Energy Systems and Networks Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Gareth Hislop · Head of Market Development and Commercial Scottish Power Energy Networks 1
Joanna Campbell · Assistant Director National Infrastructure Commission 1
Kate Gilmartin · CEO British Hydropower Association 1
Nick Winser CBE · Electricity Networks Commissioner Independent Government Advisor 1
Olivia Powis · CEO Carbon Capture and Storage Association 1
Peter McCrory · Policy Manager - Networks and Charging RenewableUK 1
Professor Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith · Emeritus Professor of Physics University of Oxford 1
Rachel Fletcher · Director of Regulation and Economics Octopus Energy 1
Roisin Quinn · Director of Asset Operations National Grid Electricity Transmission 1
Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP · Minister of State (Minister for Energy Security a… Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Susana Neves e Brookes · Head of Connections, Policy and Performance Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution 1
Susie Elks · Senior Policy Advisor E3G 1
Tom Glover · UK Country Chair RWE Generation 1