Maritime Sector Decarbonisation 2025-11-20
2025-11-20
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Port of Dover's plan to electrify short straits crossings has been discussed. The Transport Committee urged the government to provide planning authorities with clear guidance for grid and substation upgrades.
UK ports are clear that large-scale electrification is essential for maritime decarbonisation, but the required grid capacity is severely lacking. Will the Department prioritise enabling ports to build up their grid infrastructure before they fall behind international competition, so that we can continue to lead on maritime decarbonisation?
I agree with the hon. Lady on her ambition to decarbonise maritime. That is why, in my first week as maritime Minister, I announced funding of £448 million to decarbonise UK maritime. She is right to note that electrification and grid capacity are enormous issues. Department for Transport officials continue to work across the ports sector to ensure that we can improve the grid connection process, and DESNZ is working on reform of that process to free up 500 GW of capacity for crucial sectors such as ports.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer provided acknowledges the issue but does not explicitly commit to prioritising actions enabling ports to build up their grid infrastructure before falling behind international competition.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Port of Falmouth has benefited from Government money for plug-in power but is held back by grid capacity issues. It aims to redevelop and expand to service the floating offshore wind sector.
The port of Falmouth has benefited from Government money for plug-in power, but it has been held back by the grid. The port is also trying to redevelop and expand, so that it can service the floating offshore wind sector, and bring in freight on the freight line that we lost 15 years ago. Will the Minister support the port of Falmouth in those aims, and will he visit?
My hon. Friend is a champion for the port of Falmouth. I applaud the work that it is doing to achieve decarbonisation. It is incumbent on me to work with Ofgem and my departmental colleagues in DESNZ to ensure that we speed up the improvement of port capacity and connection to the national grid. I would be very happy to visit that port in the future to explore its fantastic work.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister committed to working with Ofgem but did not provide a direct commitment to support specific redevelopment plans of the port of Falmouth.
Response accuracy