Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 39
39
Acknowledged
DESNZ shifts focus towards spatial planning for local energy demand and low-carbon connections.
Conclusion
DESNZ told us that, since our inquiry into decarbonising the power sector, it had shifted its emphasis towards the importance of spatial planning. It explained that this involved considering both overall energy demand at a local level, such as for electric vehicles as well as heating; and how to connect low-carbon generation to individual homes. 72 Committee of Public Accounts, Public cost of decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure, Eighty-Ninth Report of Session 2017–19, HC 1742, 27 March 2019; Committee of Public Accounts, The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s management of the Magnox contract, Twenty-Eighth Report of Session 2019–21, HC 653, 27 November 2020; Committee of Public Accounts, Future of the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors, Third Report of Session 2022–23, HC 118, 20 May 2022 73 C&AG’s Report, Decarbonising the power sector, Session 2022–23, HC 1131, 1 March 2023, para 1 74 Qq 73–74, 79, 97, 109; DHH0036 75 Committee of Public Accounts, Decarbonising the power sector, Fifty-Ninth Report of Session 2022–23, HC 1003, June 2023 76 Qq 1, 2, 107–108; Committee of Public Accounts, Decarbonising the power sector, Fifty-Ninth Report of Session 2022–23, HC 1003, June 2023; C&AG’s Report, Decarbonising the power sector, Session 2022–23, HC 1131, 1 March 2023, para 9 Decarbonising home heating 21 DESNZ said that work was underway with the National Infrastructure Commission to look at how to build capacity in the distribution network operators to manage the increase in demand for energy, both nationally and at the street level. It added that Ofgem had also started work to identify areas where there will be particularly high levels of demand for energy.77 77 Qq 73–74, 76, 107–108 22 Decarbonising home heating
Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the importance of spatial planning for decarbonising home heating and is working with local authorities and other stakeholders to develop spatial energy plans.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The government agrees on the importance of spatial planning for decarbonising home heating. Spatial planning can help to identify the most cost-effective and efficient ways to decarbonise heating in different areas, taking into account local factors such as building stock, energy demand, and the availability of low-carbon energy sources. The government is working with local authorities and other stakeholders to develop spatial energy plans that will help to guide investment in low-carbon heating infrastructure.