The Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) detailed and analytically rigorous report has shown that this goal is now feasible, deliverable, and can be met within the same cost envelope (an annual resource cost equivalent to 1-2% of GDP in 2050) as was estimated for the 80% target when it was set in 2008. As the CCC identify, there are a wide range of benefits which could partly or fully offset these costs.

While the transition to a net zero economy undoubtedly requires new investment, it also opens up opportunities for the UK to build on its areas of strength, including in offshore wind manufacture, provision of green finance, and development of electric vehicles.

Policies to support delivery of a net zero target will be subject to impact assessments in the usual way.

Network charging is a matter for Ofgem as the independent energy regulator, and Government does not hold the requested data. Ofgem has published an ‘Infographic: The Energy Network’ which shows that network costs fell by 45% following privatisation. There was then a planned increase in network costs from around 2006 to around 2015 to pay for network upgrades, with network costs remaining broadly flat since then. Network costs are still around 17% below levels at the time of privatisation due to improved efficiency, and have remained at around 25% of the average dual fuel bill for some time.

Network charging is a matter for Ofgem as the independent energy regulator, and Government does not hold the requested data. Ofgem has published an ‘Infographic: The Energy Network’ which shows that network costs fell by 45% following privatisation. There was then a planned increase in network costs from around 2006 to around 2015 to pay for network upgrades, with network costs remaining broadly flat since then. Network costs are still around 17% below levels at the time of privatisation due to improved efficiency, and have remained at around 25% of the average dual fuel bill for some time.

Network charging is a matter for Ofgem as the independent energy regulator, and Government does not hold the requested data. Ofgem has published an ‘Infographic: The Energy Network’ which shows that network costs fell by 45% following privatisation. There was then a planned increase in network costs from around 2006 to around 2015 to pay for network upgrades, with network costs remaining broadly flat since then. Network costs are still around 17% below levels at the time of privatisation due to improved efficiency, and have remained at around 25% of the average dual fuel bill for some time.

Professor Helm conducted an independent review. The Government will now take time to assess its findings carefully. We have launched a Call for Evidence to gather views from the energy industry, academics, businesses, consumer groups and other stakeholders.

Professor Helm conducted an independent review which, among other things, made recommendations regarding full system and intermittency costs, and a system of Equivalent Firm Power capacity auctions. The government will now take time to assess its findings carefully. We have launched a Call for Evidence to gather views from the energy industry, academics, businesses, consumer groups and other stakeholders.

Transmission, distribution and balancing charges are set by network companies in line with the charging methodologies approved by Ofgem, as the independent regulator.

Network companies also produce some future estimates of these charges. These include National Grid’s forecasts of Transmission Network Use of System charges for 2018/19 to 2021/22 (available at: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Industry-information/System-charges/Electricity-transmission/Approval-conditions/Condition-5/) and Balancing Services Use of System charges to 2018/19 (available at: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Industry-information/Electricity-transmission-operational-data/Report-explorer/Services-Reports/). These forecasts are not broken down to show renewable energy sources.

Transmission, distribution and balancing charges are set by network companies in line with the charging methodologies approved by Ofgem, as the independent regulator.

Network companies also produce some future estimates of these charges. These include National Grid’s forecasts of Transmission Network Use of System charges for 2018/19 to 2021/22 (available at: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Industry-information/System-charges/Electricity-transmission/Approval-conditions/Condition-5/) and Balancing Services Use of System charges to 2018/19 (available at: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Industry-information/Electricity-transmission-operational-data/Report-explorer/Services-Reports/). These forecasts are not broken down to show renewable energy sources.

Transmission, distribution and balancing charges are set by network companies in line with the charging methodologies approved by Ofgem, as the independent regulator.

Network companies also produce some future estimates of these charges. These include National Grid’s forecasts of Transmission Network Use of System charges for 2018/19 to 2021/22 (available at: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Industry-information/System-charges/Electricity-transmission/Approval-conditions/Condition-5/) and Balancing Services Use of System charges to 2018/19 (available at: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Industry-information/Electricity-transmission-operational-data/Report-explorer/Services-Reports/). These forecasts are not broken down to show renewable energy sources.

Our statement reflects the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report that it is virtually certain (>99% probability) that natural internal variability alone cannot account for the observed increase in global surface temperatures. This statement is based on computer model simulations, which capture both the observed magnitude and spatial patterns of warming only when both human and natural forcings are included. Further, reconstructions of past climate variability from records such as ice cores also reveal that recent temperature changes are clearly distinct from natural variability. These records show that temperatures over the last 50 years in the Northern Hemisphere (where records of past climate are most comprehensive) were unusually high relative to the last 1000 years.

Evidence that observed global average surface temperatures are not consistent with natural internal variability in the climate system can be found in Working Group I of the IPCC’s 5^th Assessment Report (AR5 WGI).

Observations show that global average surface temperature has risen by between 0.6 to 0.7°C since 1951. AR5 WGI concluded that it was virtually certain (>99% probability) that natural internal variability alone could not account for this observed increase in temperature. Amongst other reasons, it showed that the spatial pattern of observed warming differed from that associated with internal variability. AR5 WGI stated that more than half of the observed increase in global average surface temperature from 1951 to 2010 was extremely likely (> 95% probability) due to the anthropogenic increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and other anthropogenic forcings together.

The observed increase of global average surface temperature, increase of mean sea level and decline of snow and ice are not consistent with natural internal variability or the influence of external factors. Conversely, the observed changes are consistent with estimates of the Earth’s energy balance which show that, as a result of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, the Earth has absorbed more energy from incoming solar radiation than it has emitted back to space. More evidence can be found in the Working Group I contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report.

As detailed in the briefing paper Statistical Models and the Global Temperature Record by the Chief Scientist of the Met Office, neither integrated nor linear models are consistent with a climate that is in a steady state. Further, these methods do not explicitly include any description of the physical processes affecting global temperatures and therefore have limited capability in providing information on such processes.

As detailed in the briefing paper Statistical Models and the Global Temperature Record by the Chief Scientist of the Met Office, neither integrated nor linear models incorporate knowledge of physical processes that affect global temperature change. Therefore, for a full picture of the science behind our changing climate, we do not rely solely upon statistical tests to assess changes in climate, but also use our physical understanding of how the climate system works embedded in our physical climate simulations.

UK wind farms are currently supported under the Renewables Obligation (RO) or Feed-in Tariff (FiT) schemes.

Data for support given to plants accredited under the RO scheme for October 2016 will be available in January 2017 from Ofgem. See link here: https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/Public/ReportManager.aspx?ReportVisibility=1&ReportCategory=0

Data for support given to plants accredited under the FiT scheme for October 2016 will be published in Ofgem’s forthcoming annual report. The report does not break spend down by technology or month. The current report for 2014/15 can be accessed here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2016/03/fit_annual_report.pdf

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is aware of allegations made against the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP) and the public responses issued by the CCCEP and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

BEIS takes its responsibilities to protect public funds very seriously. BEIS has received assurances from ESRC that appropriate oversight arrangements are in place.

As part of the review, a call for evidence was issued. A period of 6 weeks was considered sufficient to allow interested parties to prepare and submit their evidence. My officials will be meeting with interested parties during this period to address any questions and give guidance where required.

UK electricity statistics for October 2016 are not yet available. They will be published on 22 December at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electricity-section-5-energy-trends. The most recent data to August 2016 is available via that link. Electricity statistics held by BEIS cover monthly consumption and cannot be disaggregated at a daily or weekly level.

However, operationally metered electricity generation for Great Britain (1) is published by the National Grid. For the period 24 to 31 October (8 days), 6.6 TWh was generated or imported, of which 0.3 TWh was generated from wind (5.0 percent) (2). Operationally metered wind electricity generation covers 65 percent of total GB wind capacity.

Source: National Grid

(1) Excludes Northern Ireland, which is not covered by the National Grid.

(2) The source of imported electricity generation is not recorded in these data.

The Government’s last published levelised cost report shows offshore wind costs have fallen.

Support costs are determined by a combination of the Government’s view of generation costs and by competitive allocation. We expect both of these to further drive down support costs for future projects.

At Budget 2016, we announced that the reserve prices for offshore wind will fall from £105/MWh for projects commissioning in 2021, to £85/MWh for projects commissioning in 2026.