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Select Committee · Business and Trade Committee

Decarbonisation of the power sector

Status: Closed Opened: 20 May 2022 Closed: 18 Jul 2023 44 recommendations 21 conclusions 1 report

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee has launched an inquiry into the Government’s plans to decarbonise the UK’s power supply sector. The inquiry will scrutinise proposals unveiled in the Government’s Energy Security Strategy earlier this year, and the heavy emphasis it placed on scaling up the supply of electrical energy from nuclear power …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Eleventh Report - Decarbonisation of the power sector HC 283 28 Apr 2023 65 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
51 Recommendation Eleventh Report - Decarbonisation of th… Accepted in Part

Require National Grid ESO to open markets, report carbon footprint, and plan for 2035 decarbonisation.

National Grid ESO’s markets for balancing the system and addressing constraints continue to be dominated by fast-acting gas plants. More flexible and responsive low-carbon assets, such as batteries, could lead to greater competition in National Grid ESO’s markets and offer more cost-effective services. We recommend that National Grid ESO opens …

Government response. The ESO acknowledges the importance of integrating low-carbon technologies but notes its current licence prevents considering technology type in decision-making. It states that carbon intensity for the Balancing Mechanism is already monitored and published, and it will consider how markets …
Department for Business and Trade
65 Recommendation Eleventh Report - Decarbonisation of th… Accepted in Part

Ensure planning authorities are properly resourced and streamline processes for 2035 target.

To address the delivery risks to the 2035 target, the Government will need to ensure that planning and environmental authorities are properly resourced, that planning guidance is aligned with its decarbonisation goals and that the process is streamlined. Ofgem needs to approve investment in the electricity networks ahead of need …

Government response. The government supports Ofgem’s approach to investing ahead of need, detailing £30bn, £22bn, and an additional £10bn in approved network investments. It agrees on the need to reform the grid connection process and is working with Ofgem/ESO, and states that …
Department for Business and Trade

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
21 Mar 2023 Adam Bell · Stonehaven, Adam Berman · Energy UK, Laura Sandys CBE · Energy Digitalisation Taskforce, Rachel Fletcher · Octopus Energy View ↗
7 Mar 2023 Akshay Kaul · Ofgem, Alice Delahunty · National Grid Electricity Transmission, Basil Scarsella · UK Power Networks (UKPN), Chris Burchell · Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution, Claire Dykta · National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), Kayte O’Neill · National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), Lawrence Slade · Energy Networks Association (ENA), Rebecca Barnett · Ofgem View ↗
24 Jan 2023 Dame Sue Ion, Dr Jonathan Radcliffe · University of Birmingham, Dr Paul Dorfman · Nuclear Consulting Group (NCG) and Associate Fellow, Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), Sussex Energy Group, University of Sussex, Lincoln Hill · Nuclear Industry Association, Merlin Hyman · Regen (Electricity Storage Network), Nick Lawson · Ocean Wall, Sarah Honan · The Association for Decentralised Energy, Will Mezzullo · Centrica View ↗
22 Nov 2022 Catherine Raw · SSE Thermal, Dr Daniel Quiggin · Chatham House, Dr Nina Skorupska CBE · REA, Matthew Williamson · British Petroleum (bp), Olivia Powis · The Carbon Capture and Storage Association, Phil MacDonald · Ember, Sandy Hore-Ruthven · Severn Wye Energy Agency, Will Gardiner · Drax View ↗
1 Nov 2022 Chris Hewett · Solar Energy UK, Dan McGrail · Renewable UK, Dr David Joffe · Climate Change Committee, Guy Newey · Energy Systems Catapult, James Richardson · National Infrastructure Commission, Richard Arnold · Marine Energy Council, Robert Buckley · Cornwall Insight, Tom Glover · RWE Generation View ↗

Correspondence

14 letters
DateDirectionTitle
25 Apr 2023 To cttee Letter from TotalEnergies relating to the decarbonisation of the power sector i…
25 Apr 2023 To cttee Letter from Shell UK relating to the inquiry on the Decarbonisation of the powe…
21 Mar 2023 To cttee Letter from UK Power Networks relating to network losses, 14 March 2023
7 Feb 2023 To cttee Letter from Chair of Equinor relating to the Decarbonisation of the power secto…
7 Feb 2023 To cttee Letter from BP relating to the Decarbonisation of the power sector inquiry, 20 …
7 Feb 2023 To cttee Letter from Harbour Energy relating to the Decarbonisation of the power sector …
10 Jan 2023 To cttee Letter from REA relating to evidence session on biomass in the power sector, 8 …
6 Dec 2022 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Harbour Energy regarding decarbonisation of the power …
6 Dec 2022 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Equinor regarding decarbonisation of the power sector …
6 Dec 2022 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Shell regarding decarbonisation of the power sector, 2…
6 Dec 2022 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Total Energies regarding decarbonisation of the power …
6 Dec 2022 To cttee Letter from the Chair to BP regarding decarbonisation of the power sector 28.11…
17 Oct 2022 From cttee Letter to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy r…
13 Oct 2022 From cttee Letter to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy r…