Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Community Energy Projects

Tuesday 4 July 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government are supporting local authorities and community energy groups through UK growth funding schemes, including the UK shared prosperity fund.
  • Ofgem welcomes funding applications from community energy projects to the industry voluntary redress scheme.
  • Government do not support amendments to the Energy Bill tabled in the Lords that would have supported community energy and local energy trading.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ben Bradshaw Lab
Energy Environment
Context

The question arises from the need to support local initiatives in energy projects that benefit communities directly.

Question

What steps he plans to take to support the development of community energy projects. The Government are already involved in various funding schemes, but specific details on upcoming actions and commitments are sought.

Answer from Andrew Bowie

The Government are supporting local authorities and community energy groups to work together to develop projects within UK growth funding schemes, such as the UK shared prosperity fund. Ofgem also welcomes funding applications from the sector to the industry voluntary redress scheme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or commitments for supporting community energy projects beyond general support of existing funds and welcome for applications.

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Q2 Ben Bradshaw Lab
Energy
Context

The government recently removed amendments in the Lords that were intended to support community energy and local energy trading. This action has raised concerns about the future of these initiatives.

Question

Why did the Government remove amendments from the Energy Bill last week that would have supported community energy and local energy trading? The questioner is seeking a clear explanation for this decision and its implications on future support for such projects.

Answer from Andrew Bowie

As we have outlined previously, the Government do not support the amendments that were tabled in the Lords, and believe that the issues raised should be considered as part of wider market reform. However, we are proactively working with parliamentarians and the community energy sector to discuss whether further support from the Government for the sector is needed, and if so, what might be feasible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a clear reason or justification for removing the amendments and did not commit to specific alternative plans beyond discussing feasibility with stakeholders.

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