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To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total electricity generation capacity by hydroelectric power plants in (1) England, (2) Scotland, and (3) Wales.
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total electricity generation capacity by hydroelectric power plants in (1) England, (2) Scotland, and (3) Wales.
Electricity generation capacity for hydroelectric power plants is published in Energy Trends table 6.1, available on gov.uk.
At the end of 2024 the installed capacity for hydroelectric power plants was: (1) England 43 MW, (2) Scotland 1,668 MW and (3) Wales 168 MW.
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average environmental cost of producing and installing a power pylon within the range of 36 to 190 metres in height, including a breakdown of the costs of the materials for the bases required to support these pylons.
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average environmental cost of producing and installing a power pylon within the range of 36 to 190 metres in height, including a breakdown of the costs of the materials for the bases required to support these pylons.
The Government does not hold data on the average monetary or environmental cost of producing and installing an electricity pylon. Such assessments are undertaken by the relevant planning applicant and considered as part of the decision-making process by the Secretary of State. A wide range of context specific, qualitative and quantitative factors determine said value.
The environmental impact of proposed pylon developments is assessed on a scheme-by-scheme basis with the method, content and scope of assessment dependent on the likely significance of the proposed scheme’s environmental impact based on its size, nature, location and the relevant legislative and policy frameworks.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that British industry has sufficient access to energy to remain competitive within Europe.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that British industry has sufficient access to energy to remain competitive within Europe.
Government works closely with the National Energy System Operator to analyse where the energy we need will come from over the short, medium and long-term and to assess a range of factors that could affect our supplies. This enables early action and decisions to ensure we can meet demand. Energy security and resilience is maintained through a diverse mix of sources.
The Capacity Market is Government’s main tool for security of electricity supply, ensuring the electricity capacity required to meet peak demand for businesses and households is met for up to four years ahead of its use.
To ask His Majesty's Government what investment they have made or intend to make in thorium-based nuclear energy technology.
To ask His Majesty's Government what investment they have made or intend to make in thorium-based nuclear energy technology.
There are currently no funded projects specifically for thorium-based nuclear technologies. Potential for future investment will be subject to the Spending Review and the scope of future R&D schemes.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to publish the results of the consultation on allowing Woodland Carbon Credits under the Woodland Carbon Code to be admitted into the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to publish the results of the consultation on allowing Woodland Carbon Credits under the Woodland Carbon Code to be admitted into the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme.
We are currently exploring the inclusion of greenhouse gas removals into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, including the potential integration of high integrity woodland, such as Woodland Carbon Units under the Woodland Carbon Code. A consultation was launched in May 2024, and we will respond in due course.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report published on 22 April by Friends of the Earth International, Climate and biodiversity in freefall, particularly the finding that 78 per cent of the top 50 carbon offsetting projects are likely ineffective or worthless.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report published on 22 April by Friends of the Earth International, Climate and biodiversity in freefall, particularly the finding that 78 per cent of the top 50 carbon offsetting projects are likely ineffective or worthless.
The UK is a strong advocate for carbon pricing and a pioneer on carbon markets, through domestic action and our support for the uptake of pricing and market schemes globally.
Harnessed properly, carbon markets can help deliver global climate ambition, mobilise much-needed finance to tackle climate change, and deliver cost-effective abatement and wider development benefits. They can play a crucial role in protecting forests internationally and in the UK.
Stakeholders have called for greater clarity on what constitutes a high-quality carbon credit and how credits should be used. Therefore, in November last year the UK Government published a set of guiding principles for high-integrity voluntary carbon and nature markets and in April this year we launched a consultation into steps that can be taken to implement these.
Through our climate finance programmes the UK has helped address the challenges linked with ‘project-based’ forest credits , for example, the ‘leakage’ of carbon emissions. We have worked with countries to develop jurisdictional approaches to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+), which cover entire countries or states, allowing greater transparency and the generation of higher-integrity carbon credits.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the use of green hydrogen as an energy source.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the use of green hydrogen as an energy source.
Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HARs) remains our primary mechanism for allocating revenue support through the Hydrogen Production Business Model to low carbon, non-CCUS enabled hydrogen production facilities across the UK.
In the Autumn 2024 Budget, we confirmed support for 11 green hydrogen projects from the first Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1), and on 7 April 2025 we announced a shortlist of 27 projects that were invited to the next stage of the Second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) process.
This announcement reinforces the Government’s recognition of the key role low carbon hydrogen will play in delivering our Clean Energy Superpower and Growth Missions.
My Lords, I need no encouragement from my noble friend to knock on the doors of the Treasury. That is what we have been doing over the last few weeks, and having, I hope, very constructive discussions. I pay tribute to our former colleague Richard Caborn, the work he is doing in South Yorkshire in relation to the nuclear supply chain and the developments he is encouraging. I had a very good meeting with him and colleagues only a few weeks ago, and we are certainly very much apprised of the need for urgency. I am confident that we have a real opportunity in this country to develop SMRs and to see a strong UK supply chain. We should not be pessimistic. We have a great opportunity here.
My Lords, I need no encouragement from my noble friend to knock on the doors of the Treasury. That is what we have been doing over the last few weeks, and having, I hope, very constructive discussions. I pay tribute to our former colleague Richard Caborn, the work he is doing in South Yorkshire in relation to the nuclear supply chain and the developments he is encouraging. I had a very good meeting with him and colleagues only a few weeks ago, and we are certainly very much apprised of the need for urgency. I am confident that we have a real opportunity in this country to develop SMRs and to see a strong UK supply chain. We should not be pessimistic. We have a great opportunity here.
My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for the positive discussions he has had with colleagues in the public and private sectors with regard to the manufacture of small modular reactors in South Yorkshire, but I am very aware that it is not just his department but the Treasury. Will he impress upon the Treasury the fact that the Czech and Korean Governments are forging ahead with design and technology of SMRs and that unless we get our skates on about the urgency of this, we will be buying SMRs from overseas and not making them in this country?
My Lords, that is a very important point. We have a national strategic skills task force, and a plan. We reckon that we already need 40,000 extra people in the industry between now and 2030. We will need many more with the SMR programme. We are working very hard with the industry. I believe the kind of jobs it offers—well paid, in a stable and exciting environment—will bring people in, but we stand ready to support industry in that regard.
My Lords, that is a very important point. We have a national strategic skills task force, and a plan. We reckon that we already need 40,000 extra people in the industry between now and 2030. We will need many more with the SMR programme. We are working very hard with the industry. I believe the kind of jobs it offers—well paid, in a stable and exciting environment—will bring people in, but we stand ready to support industry in that regard.
My Lords, can the Minister give us an assessment of the availability of the relevant skills for building SMRs? If there is going to be a skills shortage, what training programme do the Government intend to put in place?
My Lords, the noble Lord is referring to the road map issued by the last Government. He will know that unfortunately it was not backed up by any concrete plan or resource, so we are having to pick up the pieces. I cannot yet give him the answer on the mix between SMR and major-gigawatt plants. We are clearly alongside the SMR programme. We are moving rapidly towards final investment decision on Sizewell C, which is 3.2 gigawatts. That follows Hinkley Point C, where EDF says the first unit will open between 2029 and 2031. Over the next few months we will work very hard to look at the potential of SMRs, gigawatts and the advanced modular reactors and give industry a sense of where we are going in order to give it the security and certainty it needs to develop the supply chain we want to see.
My Lords, the noble Lord is referring to the road map issued by the last Government. He will know that unfortunately it was not backed up by any concrete plan or resource, so we are having to pick up the pieces. I cannot yet give him the answer on the mix between SMR and major-gigawatt plants. We are clearly alongside the SMR programme. We are moving rapidly towards final investment decision on Sizewell C, which is 3.2 gigawatts. That follows Hinkley Point C, where EDF says the first unit will open between 2029 and 2031. Over the next few months we will work very hard to look at the potential of SMRs, gigawatts and the advanced modular reactors and give industry a sense of where we are going in order to give it the security and certainty it needs to develop the supply chain we want to see.
My Lords, I welcome the fact that the Government hope to quadruple the amount of nuclear capacity by 2050—the same target that the Conservative Government had—and it is very welcome in terms of baseload. Can the Minister give us some indication of what percentage of that increase in capacity
is going to come from SMRs and AMRs as opposed to big nuclear, particularly given how long it takes for decisions to be enacted?
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord on living in Suffolk. Only a few weeks ago I had a meeting with Suffolk local authority leaders to discuss these very matters. He is right in the sense that, as I have already said, we are moving rapidly towards final investment decision on Sizewell C. I very much hope we will be able to get that over the line. We have committed £2.7 billion of funding through the Sizewell C devex subsidy scheme to support the project’s development during the current financial year. It consolidates the Government’s position as the majority shareholder in Sizewell C and is laying the foundations for final investment decision and, we very much hope, a 3.2-gigawatt nuclear power station that will power 6 million homes for 60 to 80 years.
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord on living in Suffolk. Only a few weeks ago I had a meeting with Suffolk local authority leaders to discuss these very matters. He is right in the sense that, as I have already said, we are moving rapidly towards final investment decision on Sizewell C. I very much hope we will be able to get that over the line. We have committed £2.7 billion of funding through the Sizewell C devex subsidy scheme to support the project’s development during the current financial year. It consolidates the Government’s position as the majority shareholder in Sizewell C and is laying the foundations for final investment decision and, we very much hope, a 3.2-gigawatt nuclear power station that will power 6 million homes for 60 to 80 years.
My Lords, I declare an interest as a resident of Suffolk. I mention that because to understand the context of small nuclear reactors, it is worth while understanding the progress being made—or not—on the large nuclear reactors. Is it true that the new Sizewell nuclear reactor is not yet funded and that, while it is throwing concrete around north Suffolk, there is no contractual basis for doing so?
My Lords, we are well aware that both AI and data centres will lead to a major increase in electricity demand. We are also aware of experience in the US, and interest in this country, in linking these AI data centres to nuclear development. The EN-7, the siting policy for nuclear sites, which we are debating in your Lordships’ House
on Wednesday, gives us a more flexible siting policy as a result. We are well aware of the potential. We are working very hard to consider how we can encourage this development with private sector funding. I take the noble Earl’s point about the need for us to be very clear about where we are going in this area; I very much accept that.
My Lords, we are well aware that both AI and data centres will lead to a major increase in electricity demand. We are also aware of experience in the US, and interest in this country, in linking these AI data centres to nuclear development. The EN-7, the siting policy for nuclear sites, which we are debating in your Lordships’ House
on Wednesday, gives us a more flexible siting policy as a result. We are well aware of the potential. We are working very hard to consider how we can encourage this development with private sector funding. I take the noble Earl’s point about the need for us to be very clear about where we are going in this area; I very much accept that.
My Lords, this Government are clearly committed to making progress on SMRs, primarily to help power AI. AI will be a great consumer of power but equally has great opportunities to bring huge energy savings and efficiencies. I welcome the recently launched AI Energy Council, but are the Government doing enough to bring about the required AI energy efficiencies? I ask the Government to publish a full AI energy efficiency strategy for making the best use of AI that sets out clear targets for AI to be better than carbon-neutral before 2030.
To ask His Majesty’s Government when they expect to make an announcement on the award of contracts for small modular nuclear reactors.
To ask His Majesty’s Government when they expect to make an announcement on the award of contracts for small modular nuclear reactors.
My Lords, Great British Nuclear is overseeing the small modular reactor competition for UK deployment. Following a period of detailed negotiation, bidders have now submitted final tenders, which Great British Nuclear is evaluating. Final decisions will be taken shortly.
My Lords, Great British Nuclear is overseeing the small modular reactor competition for UK deployment. Following a period of detailed negotiation, bidders have now submitted final tenders, which Great British Nuclear is evaluating. Final decisions will be taken shortly.
My Lords, Great British Nuclear is overseeing the small modular reactor competition for UK deployment. Following a period of detailed negotiation, bidders have now submitted final tenders, which Great British Nuclear is evaluating. Final decisions will be taken shortly.
To ask His Majesty’s Government when they expect to make an announcement on the award of contracts for small modular nuclear reactors.
My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord for his congratulations. What better way to spend my birthday than answering his Question? I understand his frustration. Of course, we want to get this SMR programme over the line. Great British Nuclear is coming to the end of its evaluation process. I expect an announcement to be made within the next few weeks. I believe we have a great opportunity in this country to develop small modular reactors and a UK supply chain and to get us towards net zero, because of the essential contribution that nuclear power will play in the baseload we require.
My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord for his congratulations. What better way to spend my birthday than answering his Question? I understand his frustration. Of course, we want to get this SMR programme over the line. Great British Nuclear is coming to the end of its evaluation process. I expect an announcement to be made within the next few weeks. I believe we have a great opportunity in this country to develop small modular reactors and a UK supply chain and to get us towards net zero, because of the essential contribution that nuclear power will play in the baseload we require.
My Lords, I convey my best wishes to the Minister on his birthday today. Can I just press him a little further and ask him to celebrate by bringing some good news to the energy, nuclear and engineering industries and their workers and consumers by finally announcing or even giving a clearer date as to when a decision will be taken on small modular nuclear reactors? Is this to be yet another great British development lost to overseas suppliers due to bureaucratic inertia, dither and delay?
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how current net zero targets will affect the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies and investment in these technologies.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how current net zero targets will affect the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies and investment in these technologies.
Embracing the opportunities that AI can provide to drive growth and productivity in the economy is a government objective. Building the low carbon economy of the future will lead to significant increases in electricity demand across many sectors. These projected increases were a key part of the analysis that underpinned the department’s Clean Power Action Plan, consistent with our net zero targets. By unlocking new low carbon electricity generation, improving access to the electricity grid and the efficient operation of the energy system we will achieve Clean Power by 2030. We will maintain secure, resilient energy supplies that can be used to enable these technologies.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 30 April (HL6622), whether any other Department holds the figures of the number of certified nuclear welders in the United Kingdom.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 30 April (HL6622), whether any other Department holds the figures of the number of certified nuclear welders in the United Kingdom.
The Government does not hold the figure on the number of certified nuclear welders in the UK.
Hinkley Point C has invested £24m in education, skills and employment, including £4m in the development of a Centre of Excellence for Welding at Bridgwater and Taunton College. HMG also continues to support UK nuclear skills through the industry led National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills, a collaborative effort between Government, industry, and academia, setting out targeted action to address the skills gap and secure the UK’s nuclear workforce. This includes the on-going development of a welding course as part of the Career Switchers project in the Nuclear Skills Plan. In addition, the Destination Nuclear national communications campaign has targeted people that could work in the sector’s critical skills areas, including welders.
Lords motion to take note of the first report of the Environment and Climate Change Committee on Methane: keep up the momentum (HL 45). Agreed to on question.
Lords motion to take note of the first report of the Environment and Climate Change Committee on Methane: keep up the momentum (HL 45). Agreed to on question.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage investment in artificial intelligence technologies by ensuring that there is sufficient infrastructure to support the power grid.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage investment in artificial intelligence technologies by ensuring that there is sufficient infrastructure to support the power grid.
The Government has invited expressions of interest from local authorities and other interested parties to identify locations for AI growth zones that can facilitate the rapid development of projects.
Additionally, the Government is collaborating with Ofgem and NESO to implement major reforms in the grid connections process. This initiative could unlock up to 500GW of capacity from the connection queue, thereby speeding up connections for AI data centres.
Furthermore, the Government is establishing the AI Energy Council, which will bring together senior representatives from both the energy and AI industries to determine optimal locations for AI data centres and proactively manage their energy needs.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to remove (1) legacy renewables policy costs, and (2) climate change levy payments, from energy bills for non-domestic consumers.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to remove (1) legacy renewables policy costs, and (2) climate change levy payments, from energy bills for non-domestic consumers.
The Government is committed to ensuring that energy bills for non-domestic customers are affordable.
Legacy renewable policy costs, such as the Renewables Obligation (RO) and Feed-in Tariff (FiT) schemes, are now closed to new applicants but have brought forward the successful renewable electricity sector that we see today in the UK. This, in turn, is supporting our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 so we can reduce our reliance on international gas markets.
By driving investment in renewables, they have significantly lowered the cost of renewable electricity production over time, leading to a more affordable and sustainable energy future.