To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of unsupported flaring, in terms of cost per tonne of CO₂ equivalent abated, compared with other methane abatement measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of unsupported flaring, in terms of cost per tonne of CO₂ equivalent abated, compared with other methane abatement measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure continuous support for landfill gas generation and methane abatement assets immediately following the end of the Renewables Obligation in April 2027 and while his Department is exploring implementation of a...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure continuous support for landfill gas generation and methane abatement assets immediately following the end of the Renewables Obligation in April 2027 and while his Department is exploring implementation of a...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the expiry of the Renewables Obligation for LFGTE on the Methane Action Plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the expiry of the Renewables Obligation for LFGTE on the Methane Action Plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of current timelines for the implementation of a transitional support mechanism for landfill gas operators set out in the Methane Action Plan on site closures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of current timelines for the implementation of a transitional support mechanism for landfill gas operators set out in the Methane Action Plan on site closures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support for the landfill gas to energy sector on methane emissions and landfill gas capture rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support for the landfill gas to energy sector on methane emissions and landfill gas capture rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of slurry storage technologies on reducing agricultural methane emissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of slurry storage technologies on reducing agricultural methane emissions.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of methane harvested from landfill sites on energy security.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of methane harvested from landfill sites on energy security.

Methane harvested from landfill sites enables the generation of around 2.5 TWh a year, which is around 1% of the UK’s electricity. Many of those assets receive a subsidy through the renewables obligation, which expires in 2027. That generation has a supportive, but limited, effect on energy security. Given the high impact of methane, my Department and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are considering long-term solutions to landfill gas methane capture and appropriate transitional arrangements.

Methane harvested from landfill sites enables the generation of around 2.5 TWh a year, which is around 1% of the UK’s electricity. Many of those assets receive a subsidy through the renewables obligation, which expires in 2027. That generation has a supportive, but limited, effect on energy security. Given the high impact of methane, my Department and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are considering long-term solutions to landfill gas methane capture and appropriate transitional arrangements.

At a time when families are already under pressure from high energy bills, what assessment has the Minister made of the risk that, without action before April 2027, declining landfill gas generation will undermine energy security and increase costs for consumers?

At a time when families are already under pressure from high energy bills, what assessment has the Minister made of the risk that, without action before April 2027, declining landfill gas generation will undermine energy security and increase costs for consumers?

I reiterate that although methane harvested from such sites and used to generate electricity plays a role in electricity generation, it is less than 1% overall, so it is not an issue for our energy security. As the sites age, the amount of methane they omit reduces, and that reduction has been factored into our plans. We are looking at what transitional arrangements are needed to deal with both the methane issue and the electricity that is generated from it, and we will consult in due course.

I reiterate that although methane harvested from such sites and used to generate electricity plays a role in electricity generation, it is less than 1% overall, so it is not an issue for our energy security. As the sites age, the amount of methane they omit reduces, and that reduction has been factored into our plans. We are looking at what transitional arrangements are needed to deal with both the methane issue and the electricity that is generated from it, and we will consult in due course.

I thank the Minister, as always, for his answers. It is important that we all get the advantages of the level of methane harvested from landfill sites. In Northern Ireland we also have landfill sites, with a lot of rubbish and therefore a lot of methane possibilities. I know that the Minister visits Northern Ireland regularly, so what discussions has he had with the relevant Minister there to ensure that we can get the advantages that he mentioned in his reply to the hon. Member for Warrington South (Sarah Hall)?

I thank the Minister, as always, for his answers. It is important that we all get the advantages of the level of methane harvested from landfill sites. In Northern Ireland we also have landfill sites, with a lot of rubbish and therefore a lot of methane possibilities. I know that the Minister visits Northern Ireland regularly, so what discussions has he had with the relevant Minister there to ensure that we can get the advantages that he mentioned in his reply to the hon. Member for Warrington South (Sarah Hall)?

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his kind comments. My visits to Northern Ireland are important to me, and at the very first meeting of the reconstituted inter-ministerial working group we had a conversation on that exact question: how can we support the reduction of methane across the UK, and how can we support that through the electricity system? Clearly, that is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, but I continue to have those conversations with colleagues in the Executive.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his kind comments. My visits to Northern Ireland are important to me, and at the very first meeting of the reconstituted inter-ministerial working group we had a conversation on that exact question: how can we support the reduction of methane across the UK, and how can we support that through the electricity system? Clearly, that is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, but I continue to have those conversations with colleagues in the Executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the end of the Renewables Obligation scheme on methane emissions from landfills.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the end of the Renewables Obligation scheme on methane emissions from landfills.

Lords motion to approve. Amendment to decline to approve disagreed to on division (26 to 134). Amendment to regret debated and not moved. Original motion agreed to on question.

Lords motion to approve. Amendment to decline to approve disagreed to on division (26 to 134). Amendment to regret debated and not moved. Original motion agreed to on question.

My Lords, I thank the House for its consideration of this draft order, which was laid before the House on 13 January.

The UK Emissions Trading Scheme was established under the Climate Change Act 2008 by the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020 as a UK-wide greenhouse gas emissions trading...

My Lords, I thank the House for its consideration of this draft order, which was laid before the House on 13 January.

The UK Emissions Trading Scheme was established under the Climate Change Act 2008 by the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020 as a UK-wide greenhouse gas emissions trading...

Moved by

Baroness Hoey

Moved by

Baroness Hoey

I thank the Minister for his remarks and for his kindness in reaching out to me asking for a meeting when I tabled the amendment. Without wanting to in any way ruin his career prospects, I suggest to noble Lords that if this particular Minister had been in charge, this...

I thank the Minister for his remarks and for his kindness in reaching out to me asking for a meeting when I tabled the amendment. Without wanting to in any way ruin his career prospects, I suggest to noble Lords that if this particular Minister had been in charge, this...

The noble Baroness referenced the good work of the Scotland Office in lobbying to ensure that Scotland was exempted. Does she agree that this stands in sharp contrast to the Northern Ireland Office, which was instead lobbying parties in Northern Ireland to back this order and ensure that it was...

The noble Baroness referenced the good work of the Scotland Office in lobbying to ensure that Scotland was exempted. Does she agree that this stands in sharp contrast to the Northern Ireland Office, which was instead lobbying parties in Northern Ireland to back this order and ensure that it was...

The noble Lord almost pre-empts what I was about to say, so I thank him. As if this is not enough to give politics a bad name, the events of last week, I am afraid, leave a nasty taste in the mouth. The Northern Ireland Assembly’s DAERA scrutiny committee met...

The noble Lord almost pre-empts what I was about to say, so I thank him. As if this is not enough to give politics a bad name, the events of last week, I am afraid, leave a nasty taste in the mouth. The Northern Ireland Assembly’s DAERA scrutiny committee met...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for introducing this SI, to which I have tabled a regret amendment. I also echo all the comments made by the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, on the role of the Minister. I will speak both to my regret amendment and to the...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for introducing this SI, to which I have tabled a regret amendment. I also echo all the comments made by the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, on the role of the Minister. I will speak both to my regret amendment and to the...