Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
Identifying early failure in net zero innovation projects is considered a successful outcome.
Conclusion
We were told that the Innovation Delivery Board is starting to collate risk assessments for individual net zero innovation projects.53 DESNZ told us that there is an “honesty” about when an innovation project does not work compared with other government projects, because it is about seeing what does and does not work across a portfolio of projects. It agreed with our view that a ‘failure’ when trying a range of innovative projects is not a failure if it is identified early. DESNZ noted that finding out that something does not work can itself be a “successful outcome”.54 Making progress visible to the public
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and commits that the Net Zero Innovation Board, via its sub-group, will develop an overall government risk appetite statement for net zero R&I programmes by Spring 2024. The Board will also regularly monitor portfolio progress, and DESNZ intends to publish an update on the Delivery Plan.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2024 6.2 The Net Zero Innovation Board, through its Innovation Delivery sub-group, will consider risk appetite and tolerance for programmes in the current net zero R&I portfolio as set out in the Delivery Plan and develop an overall government risk appetite statement by Spring 2024. 6.3 This Innovation Delivery Board will regularly monitor progress of the portfolio at each of its meetings. DESNZ intends to publish a progress update on the Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework Delivery Plan ahead of the next Spending Review. This will include a view on the progress and timescales for the development of different technologies.