Recommendations & Conclusions
20 items
1
Conclusion
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We welcome the fact that EN-1 has been revised to reflect the Government’s commitment to deliver net zero by 2050, and to move away from reliance on fossil fuels. Meeting our net zero target will require a significant scale and pace of change in delivering new energy infrastructure. We therefore …
Government response. Draft EN-1 already re-affirms the government’s commitment to net zero. EN1 sets out that the government’s objectives for the energy system to ensure our supply of energy 6 https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1602/energy-national-policy-statements/publications/ 7 https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2022-02-22/debates/5EE2D484-5E06-4320-AAB1-2C4DA951C84F/ RevisedEnergyNationalPolicyStatements always remains secure, reliable, affordable, and is consistent …
Department for Business and Trade
2
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
As currently drafted, revised (draft) EN-1 does not provide the “step change” needed to deliver the required scale of new NSIPs at a sufficiently rapid pace to deliver the Government’s net zero aims. This is largely due to ambiguity in the drafting about the relative weight of ‘climate change’ relative …
Government response. Please note the response to Recommendation 1 responds to the first sentence of Recommendation 2 regarding clearer direction in favour of new energy infrastructure to deliver net zero. NPSs set out in Part 3 of draft EN-1, the Secretary of …
Department for Business and Trade
3
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We recommend that revised (draft) EN-1 provides clearer direction in favour of the presumption of the delivery of new energy infrastructure required to deliver net zero. We recommend that revised (draft) EN-1 explicitly sets out that the NPS takes precedent over any other conflicting local or statutory bodies’ planning policies. …
Government response. EN-1 and EN-3 are clear about the urgent need for all types of renewable electricity generation infrastructure. Where there are government’s ambitions for certain types of renewable generating infrastructure these are also included within the NPS and have been updated …
Department for Business and Trade
4
Conclusion
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We recognise that the inclusion of specific targets for the delivery of renewable energy infrastructure within the NPS would provide a clear indication of the Government’s intention to deliver net zero—and give practical application to this principle within the planning process. We acknowledge the Minister’s response that the Government’s targets …
Government response. We have updated the draft EN-1 to reflect the BESS, Net Zero Strategy, Hydrogen Strategy, and government’s ambitions for Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS). CCUS and Hydrogen are nascent technologies in the early stages of development and …
Department for Business and Trade
5
Conclusion
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
If the Government’s targets set for renewables are not to be included within the NPS planning regime, the link between those targets and planning principles must be made explicit in respect of each technology or generation capacity, so that they are clearly understood by planning authorities and industry to facilitate …
Government response. promote the scaling up of new technologies, where relevant these have been referenced in the draft energy NPSs. Examples of technology roadmaps associated with these include: • The Hydrogen Strategy9 published in August 2021 set out a 2020s roadmap setting …
Department for Business and Trade
6
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
The purpose of reviewing the current NPS was to update it to bring it in line with the Government’s Energy White Paper. However, since then, the Government has published a number of key policy documents which are relevant for the effective delivery of nationally significant infrastructure to deliver net zero. …
Government response. It is for the relevant Secretary of State concerned to consider whether and when to take forward any review under section 6 of the Planning Act 2008. circumstances which the Secretary of State considers make the review appropriate, but may …
Department for Business and Trade
7
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We acknowledge the Government’s view that the NPS should not be overly prescriptive to avoid discouraging the development of new technologies. We recognise that the NPS should also facilitate the development of new technologies in this fast-moving sector. We therefore recommend the clear alignment of the NPS with specific technology …
Government response. At present, the government has no plans to create a single NPS for Infrastructure as part of its reforms of the NSIP process. Our strategies for infrastructure investment and performance are set out in the National Infrastructure Strategy (NIS)14 and …
Department for Business and Trade
8
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We note that the current review of the NPS for Energy is the first to have taken place in 10 years. In order to properly take into account the rapid pace of technological change in the energy sector and the need for significant progress towards meeting our net zero target, …
Government response. The government accepts the Committee’s recommendation. In line with government ambitions, the need for hydrogen in our energy system is set out in section 3.4 of EN-1. As noted above in the government’s response to Recommendation 4, we have updated …
Department for Business and Trade
9
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We recommend that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy work with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to consider the potential merits of implementing a single National Policy Statement across sectors with sub-sector statements linked to different technology developments. Consideration of this change should be assessed …
Government response. Government agrees that onshore wind is an important part of the energy mix, accounting for around a quarter of installed renewable capacity in the UK. As set out in the Energy White Paper and Net Zero Strategy, a low-cost net …
Department for Business and Trade
10
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
As noted above, we recommend that the revised (draft) NPS, both EN-1 and EN-2, be updated to take into account the Hydrogen Strategy.
Government response. Draft EN-1 establishes an urgent need for hydrogen and CCS infrastructure and, in contrast to the existing EN-1, makes clear provision for new and emerging technologies. Draft EN-4 makes clear that policies and strategies are currently being developed to assist …
Department for Business and Trade
11
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We recognise the importance of onshore wind as a significant source of clean energy and as a key part of the energy mix required to achieve net zero. The current NPS was reviewed in order to bring the planning framework in line with the policy context set out in the …
Government response. The government accepts the Committee’s recommendation and has included a new paragraph 1.1.4 in draft EN-4 setting out that given the continued need for natural gas leading to 2050 (and potentially beyond) applications can be made in line with current …
Department for Business and Trade
12
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We recommend that revised (draft) EN-4 includes explicit and precise wording on hydrogen, Carbon Capture and Storage and other technologies that will more clearly demonstrate how the move away from fossil fuels will be achieved. This must specifically include reference to the infrastructure required, for example for the transmission of …
Government response. We agree with the importance of EN-5 reflecting the work of the Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR) and have updated the NPS to reflect the work undertaken under the OTNR and particularly the need for transmission to be more co-ordinated. …
Department for Business and Trade
13
Conclusion
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We also recommend that the NPS include language on maintaining the resilience of fossil fuel infrastructure that will remain in use up to 2035, in line with existing Government policy. (Paragraph 64) Revised (Draft) National Policy Statement for Energy 23
Government response. The committee is right to highlight the importance of network resilience. The transmission network is designed and managed to ensure it is protected from potential risks, such as adverse weather events, and runs at approximately 99.99% reliability.16 Because of this, …
Department for Business and Trade
14
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We recommend that EN-5 is updated to reflect the outcome of the Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR). We understand the revised Energy NPS is expected to be laid before Parliament before the OTNR is due to be completed. The Department should consider how the potential outcome of the OTNR should …
Government response. We agree with the importance of EN-5 reflecting the work of the Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR) and have updated the NPS to reflect the work undertaken under the OTNR and particularly the need for transmission to be more co-ordinated. …
Department for Business and Trade
15
Conclusion
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We welcome the clarity in the NPS on undergrounding which will speed up the process for planning electricity connections through designated areas.
Department for Business and Trade
16
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We recommend that Ministers consider whether reference to undergrounding should be extended to include application in areas where network resilience, for example to extreme weather events, is considered more likely in the future. We ask that Ministers write to this committee no later than July 2022 with its conclusions. (Paragraph …
Government response. The committee is right to highlight the importance of network resilience. The transmission network is designed and managed to ensure it is protected from potential risks, such as adverse weather events, and runs at approximately 99.99% reliability.16 Because of this, …
Department for Business and Trade
17
Conclusion
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We welcome the review of the NPS for energy which updates the planning framework for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects in line with the Government’s policy commitments as set out in the Energy White Paper. In doing so, it should help provide the energy infrastructure required to deliver the Government’s net …
Government response. We welcome the review of the NPS for energy which updates the planning framework for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects in line with the Government’s policy commitments as set out in the Energy White Paper. In doing so, it should help …
Department for Business and Trade
18
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
Overall, we recommend that the revised (draft) NPS needs to place greater emphasis on the impact of climate change and the speed at which new infrastructure will need to be built to meet the Government’s net zero target. It must clearly articulate how the decision-making process will weigh the urgent …
Government response. Overall, we recommend that the revised (draft) NPS needs to place greater emphasis on the impact of climate change and the speed at which new infrastructure will need to be built to meet the Government’s net zero target. It must …
Department for Business and Trade
19
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
The revised NPS for energy should be a clear and unambiguous statement of the key principles underpinning the planning framework, thereby allowing a clear statement of intent while also allowing sufficient flexibility to take into account new and emerging technologies. We recommend that the NPS for energy should, however, be …
Government response. The revised NPS for energy should be a clear and unambiguous statement of the key principles underpinning the planning framework, thereby allowing a clear statement of intent while also allowing sufficient flexibility to take into account new and emerging technologies. …
Department for Business and Trade
20
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Revised (Draft) National…
We recommend that Government reviews the NPS for energy at least once every five years and that Ministers ensure the resilience of our energy infrastructure is included in these reviews going forward. (Paragraph 76) 24 Revised (Draft) National Policy Statement for Energy
Government response. It is for the relevant Secretary of State concerned to consider whether and when to take forward any review under section 6 of the Planning Act 2008. The factors considered in carrying out the review will depend on the individual …
Department for Business and Trade